Thank you to everyone that participated and to fandom blogs @choicesmonthlychallenge, @openheartfanfics and @choicesficwriterscreations for the support. It was great to see Sienna become the star of the story.
Fanfics and Edits ✒️📸
Apple Pie and Cheer up Cuddles - @rafasgirl23415 📸
Cookies - @liaromancewriter 📸
First Day - @liaromancewriter
Sienna's Dream Kitchen - @liaromancewriter 📸
The Sweetest Friend - @jerzwriter
Fanart and Moodboards 🎨
Dr. Sienna Trinh - @lilyoffandoms
Dr. Sienna Trinh - WIP - @lilyoffandoms
Sienna Geometric Art - @storyofmychoices
Sienna and Jackie - @aesthetic-aag
Sienna and Pikachu - @sazanes
Sienna the Influencer - @aesthetic-aag
Spread Joy Quote 908 - @storyofmychoices
Who is Sienna Trinh - @aesthetic-aag
Throwbacks
All My Todays - @liaromancewriter
Becoming Sienna - @liaromancewriter
Day One (Series) - @liaromancewriter
Meet the Parents - @liaromancewriter
Midnight Snack - @liaromancewriter
My Best Friend, My Chosen Sister - @rafasgirl23415
Premise: Sienna is nervous about meeting Max’s parents, aka, her soon-to-be future in-laws.
Book: Open Heart (post series)
Pairing: Sienna Trinh x Max Valentine (M!OC)
Rating/Category: Teen. Fluff.
Words: 1,340
A/N: I've been missing Maxenna lately and got inspired by Meghan Trainor's Made You Look. I'm using @choicesflashfics week 44, prompt 1 (in bold). Submitting to @choicesmonthlychallenge August, National Couple's Day.
The walk-in closet in the swanky Georgetown apartment was littered with discarded outfits, a kaleidoscope of colors and fabrics. Time was running out, and the lone occupant in the room was ready to scream from frustration.
Wearing only a black lace bra and matching panties under her robe, Sienna Trinh riffled through the clothes hanging on the rack for a suitable dress. She should have gone shopping earlier; now, it was too late to do anything.
Too short. Too frumpy. Too slutty. Sienna ran through the litany of everything wrong with her clothes.
She’d spent the last eight years in and out of hospital scrubs and clothes designed for comfort during twelve-fourteen-hour shifts. Her limited wardrobe was not intended for fancy dinner parties with billionaires.
Sienna had moved to DC and in with Max Valentine a month ago. They’d been traveling ever since, first to visit her family in New Orleans, then vacations in St. Thomas and Paris. Now that she and Max were back in town, his parents had invited them for dinner.
Maybe she should fake a headache and end the misery now. Except, they would see right through that excuse, and she’d have forever damaged her relationship with her boyfriend’s parents.
Sienna glimpsed at the floor-to-ceiling mirror, and her face fell at the sight of her reflection. Her make-up-free face was haggard from worry, and strands of brown hair escaped whichever way from a messy bun atop her head.
“Whoa. What happened in here?” Max asked from behind her.
Sienna spun on her heels to see him standing in the doorway. His suit jacket was folded neatly on his arm, and a dark gray tie hung loose around his neck. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, revealing an expensive watch wrapped around his left wrist.
Seeing him looking like that after a full day at work, Sienna felt even shabbier.
Max was staring at the mess on the floor, eyes wide in astonishment. He was a neat freak, and it was probably driving him crazy. Great. One more thing she couldn’t get right, she thought in despair.
“I can’t do this,” Sienna said, her voice hitching on unshed tears. “Please apologize to your parents for me. Tell them I came down with a cold, a stomach bug, or something contagious. Just make it up.”
Max slowly walked towards her, his green eyes wary.
“I can do that,” he said, gently touching her shoulders. “But if I’m going to lie for you to my parents, you’ll have to explain why first. And make it good.”
“I have nothing to wear!” Sienna exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air.
“Okay,” he nodded. “I have a sister, so I know that’s Girl Code for ‘I’m nervous, and everything I own is ugly.’ Did I get that right?”
Sienna deflated when she realized he was serious rather than dismissive as she’d been expecting. She should have known better. After all, he’d never trivialized her feelings when they were friends. Why should now be any different?
“Here,” he said, folding her into his embrace.
Sienna nuzzled into him, the fabric of his dress shirt soft against her cheeks, and inhaled his scent. Her earlier panic dissipated the longer he held her.
“Want to tell me what’s wrong?” he said softly against her ear. “You’ve met my parents before, remember? You even had dinner at their house last year.”
Sienna leaned back in his arms, her hands resting on his upper arms, and smiled ruefully.
“Yes, but I was always Cassie’s friend before. Now I’m living with their son and heir, a man I barely went on a handful of dates with before moving in with him a month later. I’d be suspicious of me too.”
“First of all, Cassie and I are both their heirs,” Max said, leading her to the padded bench in the middle of the room. “Second, you and I have been circling each other for years, even if we didn’t make it official until recently.”
He placed two fingers on her chin and tilted her face up. “Third, my mother loves you. Probably more than she does me.”
“I see you didn’t mention your father in that sentence,” Sienna said, pursing her lips.
Max shrugged. “My dad will, too, once he gets to know you. He hasn’t had the same opportunities as my mom to spend time with you.”
“I’m so afraid I’ll mess up, use the wrong fork or dip my fingers in the soup instead of the water bowl,” she confessed anxiously.
Max laughed, tears of mirth leaking from his eyes.
“If I was dining with the Crawleys at Downton Abbey, I’d probably worry about that too,” he said, still chuckling. “Luckily, we’re dining with the Valentines at Country Club Hills, and there’s no water bowl or snobby butler in sight.”
“I’m being ridiculous, aren’t I?” Sienna said, more annoyed with herself.
“No, you’re not,” Max said. “I was terrified of your family, especially because your sister kept giving me the beady eye. So, I get it. But I survived meeting the parents of the woman I love, and you will too.”
Sienna covered her face with her hands and groaned in frustration before turning to face him.
“Tell me something about them. Your parents,” she clarified when he looked askance. “Doesn’t have to be major, just anything, even if it’s small, about Olivia and Robert, not Mr. and Mrs. Valentine.”
Max drummed his fingers on his thighs as he thought about the request.
“Okay. I don’t know if this counts, but,” he began slowly, “my parents have never spent more than a handful of nights apart since they got married.”
Sienna felt her heart melt at the sentiment, and her eyes softened as he continued his tale.
“Whenever my dad travels overnight for work, my mother accompanies him. Neither is happy unless the other is close. I remember once my mom was admitted to the hospital for a mild concussion after a skiing accident.”
Sienna smiled, watching the amused exasperation cross his face at the memory.
“My dad pulled strings with the board so they’d let him spend the night in her room on a rollaway bed. The damn thing was way too small, and he was uncomfortable, feet hanging off the end. But you couldn’t pay him to leave until she was discharged.”
“That is so incredibly romantic,” Sienna said, tears dripping down her cheeks.
“And incredibly embarrassing if you’re their kid,” Max grumbled with an exaggerated eye-roll and head shake. “They’re always touching, a hand pat here, a kiss on the side of the head there.”
“I love that!” Sienna gushed, recalling how she’d seen them do just that at Cassie’s wedding.
Sobering up, Max sighed and took her hand. “If you can’t do this tonight, I’ll call them to reschedule. Tell them I double-booked or something came up at work. They’ll understand.”
Sienna’s lips twisted in a wry grin at Max’s offer, and she shook her head.
“No, it’s okay. We should go.“ She glanced at the clothes lying on the floor and sighed morosely. “But I still don’t know what to wear.”
“Will you trust me to help you with that?”
“I trust you with parts of myself I’m afraid to show anyone else,” she said softly, giggling at the strange comparison. “So, yes. I can trust you to dress me appropriately for the occasion.”
He pulled out his phone and unlocked the screen.
“What’re you doing?” she asked curiously when he clicked on the FaceTime app.
“Calling the expert,” he replied just as Cassie appeared on the screen.
Telling his sister to hold on, he paused the call and peered intently at Sienna. “I’ll hold up the phone; you try outfit options with your bestie. Sound good?”
Sienna beamed in pleasure at his solution. Deciding her best friend could wait a few more seconds, she leaned in and slowly kissed his breath away with the promise of more to come later.
my little contribution to @siennatrinhappreciationweek Sienna will always be my favorite best friend, she is positive, strong, kind, brave, funny, dedicated, loyal, kind and a great cook and is always ready to help those in need and prepared to save lives 🥰🥰🥰
This event runs from August 25 to 31, 2024, and any content is welcome as long as it shows an appreciation for Open Heart's Dr. Sienna Trinh! 🐬
Submissions can be fanfics, fanart, edits, mood boards, playlists, headcanons, and interactive media—even simple appreciation posts and screenshots of favorite scenes. We'll also accept WIPs and throwback pieces—reblog them and tag us. All we ask is that you make Sienna the star of your fanwork!
Prompts
Day 1: Life and Work: Who is Sienna Trinh?
Day 2: Baking and Hobbies: How does Sienna spend her free time?
Day 3: AUs: If Sienna wasn't a doctor, who would she be?
Day 4: Family, Friendships and Romance: Tell us about her relationships
Day 5: Life After Residency: What happens to Sienna in the future?
Day 6: Character Appreciation: What do you love about Sienna?
Day 7: Free Day -- make your own prompt
Guidelines are below the cut...
Guidelines
Tag @siennatrinhappreciationweek on new posts and reblogs of previously posted content.
Please specify the day or prompt in the header or reblog.
If your work has mature or NSFW content, please label it as such and use appropriate warnings.
Please add a ‘read more’ page break to avoid long posts and hide sensitive content below the line. This prevents exposing other fans to triggering/disturbing or mature content.
Participate as often as you like and on any day of the event week. There's no limit on multiple submissions for the same day or prompt
Use the prompts whenever and however you like. It’s not about a specific word or day but rather the creativity it inspires.
Late submissions accepted until September 2nd. Event masterlist will be posted by September 5th.
Tumblr tags can be finicky. If your work isn't reblogged within 48 hours, send @liaromancewriter a DM or submit an ask with the link to the post.
Remember to also tag the below fandom blogs:
@choicesficwriterscreations (new works, WIPs and throwbacks accepted - submission guidelines
@choicesaugustchallenge (new works only) - prompts here
Sienna waits until her contraction ends before she takes off her sodden pyjama bottoms and wraps her bottom half in a towel, then waddling back into her bedroom.
Lucas is already awake, having heard Sienna cry out and is sitting on the edge of the bed, his jeans half on. “My waters have broken,” Sienna says somewhat calmly.
Nodding, Lucas turns to his wife, “I suspected as much. Don’t worry Si. We’ll get you to the hospital. Now let’s get you cleaned up and into your clothes you chose for the ride to the hospital.”
Sienna puts the towel she has wrapped around her lower half on the bed and sits down, “My contractions are twenty minutes apart. We have time to get to hospital.”
After helping Sienna get dressed, Lucas takes out her hospital bag from the wardrobe. “Are you Ok?”
Sienna nods, “Just a little nervous.”
Kissing Sienna softly, Lucas strokes her hair, “You’ll be fine Sienna. I promise love, I’ll be right by your side from start to finish.”
Ten minutes later Sienna and Lucas are downstairs and are pulling on their jackets. “I’m going to text Mom and tell her, she’s probably asleep, but at least she’ll see it when she wakes up.”
Sienna nods as she sips on a bottle of water, “I hope Lucy’s on shift tonight.”
Ten minutes later as they drive to the hospital, Sienna writhes in pain in the passanger seat, “Another one’s starting,” she gasps.
Keeping his eyes on the road, Lucas reaches over and grips Sienna’s hand, “Just breathe Si. You’re doing really well. We’ll be at the hospital in no time.”
At Edenbrooke in the children’s ward, Casey is awake as she nurses Tori, “Good girl, I know you don’t feel well Bunny.”
There’s a knock on the door, “Casey, I hoped you’d be awake. Sienna’s in labour. She’s on her way in now,” Lucy smiles.
Casey smiles, “Thanks for letting me know Lucy.”
Raf comes back from going to the toilet, “Sienna’s in labour,” Casey smiles.
Raf smiles softly, “Hopefully everything will go smoothly and Meredith will arrive safely.”
Casey nods, “That’s what we’re all hoping for.”
She looks at Lucy, “You’ll let me know how things are going, won’t you?”
Lucy nods, “Yes. Of course Casey.”
Casey smiles down at Tori, “It doesn’t feel so long that I was the one coming into hospital to give birth.”
Raf kisses the top of her head, “I know sweetheart.”
A wave of sadness washes over Casey, “I’ll never know that feeling of holding our baby for the first time again,” she whispers sadly.
Raf wraps his arms around Casey, “No, but there are so many other milestones we have to look forward to, not only with Tori but Lucy and Enrique too. Their first days at school, the first time they can ride their bike without stabilisers, when they can remember our phone number, or our first and last names.”
Casey looks at her husband, impressed. “Wow,” she says.
Raf shrugs, “I’ve read a lot of child development books this last year or so.”
Casey smiles, “I’m proud of you.”
Casey suddenly remembers something she had read in one of the books Raf had bought and read, “And we will need to call on the tooth fairy soon.”
Raf laughs, “That’s true.”
As Lucas parks the car in Edenbrooke’s car park, Sienna feels the contraction she was experiencing begin to ease. “Ooo, that was sore.”
Taking off his seatbelt and unbuckling Sienna’s for her, Lucas smiles, “Wait a second and I’ll come around and get you.”
As he is opening the door to help Sienna out of the car, Lucy is coming with a wheelchair. “Hi Sienna. Come on, let’s get you up to the maternity ward to get checked out.”
Lucy helps Sienna sit in the wheelchair, “When was your last contraction and how far apart have they been?”
Sienna shifts uncomfortably, “Just a few moments ago one ended and they have been fifteen minutes apart.”
Lucy nods, “That’s normal for early labour. Let’s get you inside.”
When Sienna is upstairs in the labour ward, Isla arrives to check her over. “Hello Sienna. Let’s get you checked over.”
Sienna changes into her birthing gown and lies on the bed for Isla to examine her cervix.
Isla puts on a pair of gloves and gently inserts her fingers inside Sienna, “You are already three centimetres dilated. It could be a while for things to pick up. Have your waters broken?”
Sienna nods, “Yes. It’s because of that that we came in as I know that after that the baby is at risk of infection.”
Isla nods, “You were right to come in. How long have you been having contractions?”
Sienna closes her legs, “I have been feeling pain since last night and struggled to sleep.”
Isla nods, “It sounds as if you have been in very early labour for some time. But you were right to stay home.”
Sienna feels a thirst come over her, “Luc, can you get my drink out of my bag? I’m really thirsty.”
Lucas nods and takes out the first drink he comes to, which is Lucozade Sport, “Here you go Si. Just sip it.”
Sienna sips the drink, “Can I get up and walk around?”
Isla nods, “Yes. I have to ask, are you planning an epidural?”
Sienna nods, ‘Yes. When the pain gets stronger.”
As she gets out of bed, Sienna suddenly remembers Tori is in hospital, “Could you text Raf and see how Tori is?” she asks.
Lucas frowns but nods, “Sure.”
Taking his phone out he finds his best friend’s number. Hi Sienna wants to know how Tori is. Is she any better?
In the children’s ward, Raf gets a text from Lucas asking how Tori is. She’s asleep, thankfully. Casey is too, I managed to convince her to get some rest as she is no use to Sienna. How is Sienna?
Casey finally was convinced to go to sleep when Lucy had left as she was exhausted after being so concerned about Tori.
He hadn’t told her about Lucy’s chest infection and tonsilitis yet as that would just make Casey panic and feel torn between their daughters.
Raf decides to text his mother to check on Lucy. Hi Mama, how is Lucy? Casey is asleep at the moment but she will be awake soon for Tori’s feed. I don’t want to tell her about Lucy as it will make her feel torn between the girls, like I do.
In the labour ward Sienna is pacing around to get relief from the backache, “Did Raf get back to you about Tori?”
Lucas nods, “Yes. She’s asleep right now and Casey’s managed to fall asleep too but she will be awake soon for Tori’s feed.”
Sienna stops pacing and bends over in pain, gripping the back of a chair as a contraction begins.
Lucas comes over to where she is standing and gently rubs her back, “Just breathe love, you’re doing really well. In and out. that’s it, I’ve got you.”
Sienna moans softly, “They’re getting stronger.”
When the contraction stops she frowns, “I have to pee.”
Megan, who was Casey’s nurse when she gave birth to Tori only three weeks earlier, pops her head in. “How are you doing Sienna? Do you need any pain relief?”
Sienna nods, “Yes, I am beginning to feel the contractions become stronger.”
Megan nods, “I can give you Meperidine right now if you feel like you can hold off on the epidural.”
Sienna nods, “I will try that first.”
Megan soon has the demerol and Sienna is leaning against the bed as she injects her thigh. “The relief should start soon. The only thing you need to know is with an epidural you can’t have a water birth.”
Sienna nods, “I didn’t think a water birth was for me.”
Lucas frowns, the medical terms going over his head, “What’s Meperidine? Will it hurt the baby?”
Megan shakes her head, “No. Meperidine is the official name for Demerol. Which is similar to morphine.”
Sienna shakes her head, “Luc, it’s fine. I researched it. Meri will be fine,” she says in between panting.
Lucas nods, “Ok Si. I just wondered. I have absolutely no medical knoweledge whatsoever.”
Megan smiles, “Well Sienna does, you know she knows what she’s talking about.”
Sienna rocks from side to side as her hips begin to hurt, “Is that helping?” Lucas asks, gently holding her hips.
Sienna nods, “I think so.”
He smiles, “I could give you a massage if you’d like? Raf talked me through it.”
Sienna nods, “I’d like that.”
Gently massaging Sienna’s hips, Lucas kisses her, “Is that helping?” he whispers in between kisses.
Sienna smiles as she kisses him back, “Yes. I can’t believe our sweet girl will be here soon. In our arms.”
As the next three hours pass by, Sienna moans through each of her contractions and in between she catches snippets of rest.
At her next check, she looks at Isla hopefully, “You’re only four centimetres dilated Sienna, but you’re doing really well.”
Sienna bursts into tears from exhaustion, “I don’t know how much longer I can do this. I barely got any sleep last night or for the last ten days. I just want her to come out.”
Lucas gently wipes Sienna’s tears away, “Things will progress soon Si. Don’t worry.”
Lucy puts a straw to Sienna’s lips, “Sip on this Sienna, you’re bound to be thirsty.”
Sienna has a long sip on her Lucozade Sport before she leans back against the pillows, “I’m hungry too.”
Isla smiles, “You are free to eat if you don’t feel nauseated.”
Lucas gets up and opens the cooler that he had packed with Sienna’s snacks and drinks as well as some for himself if he got hungry. “What would you like?”
Sienna moves uncomfortably as Meredith is pressing heavily on her bladder and her pubic bone. “Did you pack ham and cheese sandwiches?”
Lucas nods, “Yes. Ham and cheese, or cheese or chicken.”
Sienna smiles, “I’ll have a ham and cheese sandwich and maybe some strawberries.”
Lucy smiles as she gently takes Sienna’s plait out and begins to brush her hair whilst her friend isn’t going through a contraction. “Casey’s suggestion?”
Sienna nods, “Yes. Ninety per cent of the suggestions are from Casey.”
Soon Sienna is happily eating, stopping in between to breathe through a couple of contractions.
Lucy wipes the sweat from her friend’s forehead, “You’re doing really well Sienna. Just focus on the end result and Meredith’s beautiful little face.”
She wraps a hair tie around the bottom of the plait, “And when the pain gets more intense a good techinique is to gently remind her of some of your favourite memories. Or happy times.”
Lucas nods, “Thanks.”
Sienna finishes her sandwich and bowl of strawberries, sipping some of her drink.
Lucy smiles as she squeezes Sienna’s hand gently as she feels another contraction begin, “Breathe slowly Sienna, that’s it. Good.”
As she is sufficiently pain free, Sienna dozes off between contractions. “She’s doing really well,” Lucy whispers.
Lucas nods, “She really is. I just wish there was more I can do for her other than just talk and let her break my hand.”
Lucy smiles kindly, “You’re doing the best you can. Sienna’s nice and calm which is what’s best for her and Meredith. The more mom panics the more chance baby will get distressed.”
Lucas gently strokes Sienna’s hair as she sleeps, “When did you switch to obstetrics?”
Lucy laughs softly, “I didn’t. Not officially. The night Casey had Lucy and Enrique they were short staffed and when she had Tori she had explicitely asked for me to be there. And Sienna asked me as she knows we are friends and I’ll give her and Meredith the best care. Of course if Casey was on shift I wouldn’t be here as she would but with Tori only being three weeks old, she is still on maternity leave and Sienna isn’t selfish so wouldn’t ask her to leave Tori for an extended period of time.”
Sienna is wrenched from her sleep by a contraction, “It’s ok Sienna, I’m right here, love,” Lucas soothes as she grips his hand in a vice grip and moans softly.
As Sienna breathes through the contraction, Lucy helps Lucas see her through it. “You’re doing really well Sienna.”
After the contraction ends, Sienna asks if she can move into a different position. “You can labour in any position you find comfortable,” Isla confirms gently.
Sienna gets off the bed and leans against a chair, the chair keeping her in the standing position.
In the children’s ward, Casey is nursing Tori, “I wonder when your cousin will be here?” she murmurs softly, stroking her daughter’s cheek.
Raf comes back after using the bathroom, “Have you heard anything?” Casey asks, a big yawn surprising her.
Kissing his wife and baby girl, Raf shakes his head, “No sweetheart. I haven’t. It’s only been three hours.”
Casey looks at Tori, “That’s true. First births take ages. I was in labour with Lucy and Enrique for eighteen hours.”
She smiles at Tori, “And this little madam, it was eleven hours. And I remember every single second.”
Raf smiles, “Tori’s birth was only three weeks ago Casey, it would be concerning if you didn’t remember something that happened less than a month ago.”
After half an hour, Tori finishes nursing and Casey gently unlatches her from her breast, “My beautiful girl. You were worth every second of pain.”
Raf changes Tori’s diaper and places her into her crib as she falls asleep again. “Maybe you should try to get some sleep sweetheart. You had a horrible day.”
Casey nods, “Will you cuddle me?”
Raf nods and takes off his joggers and climbs into bed beside his wife and cradles her. “I’m worried about Lucy and Enrique. They’re not used to me being away from them for this long unless I’m working.”
Kissing Casey’s forehead, Raf holds her close, “You’ll see them soon.”
Natalia had gone to her mother’s to wait for news on her granddaughter’s arrival. “Is waiting for news of your grandchild this nerve wracking for everyone?” she asks as she sits around the dinner table with a cup of coffee.
Gloria nods, “It certainly was for me. I wore holes in the carpet waiting for you to give birth.”
Natalia laughs, “Yeah. Luc was always stubborn, right from the very start. I wonder if Meredith will be as well?”
Gloria knows there is something else on her daughter’s mind, “What’s the matter Nat?”
Natalia stirs her coffee, “Victoria has told me that both Tori and Lucy are poorly. Tori is in hospital with broncholitis. And Lucy has a chest infection and tonsilitis.”
Gloria frowns, “Poor babies. Casey and Rafael must be torn in two.”
Natalia nods, “They are both at the hospital with Tori but yes, they do feel guilty that neither of them are with Lucy.”
Picking up her phone, she finds her best friend’s number. Hi Vic. How are the girls? We’re still waiting for news on Meri’s arrival. It’s nerve wracking. How did you go through this twice?
Natalia smiles as she thinks of meeting her granddaughter for the first time.
She had loved being a surrogate extra grandma to Casey and Raf’s twins but the idea of being a grandma in her own right is incredible.
Not that she will stop caring for the twins and baby Tori, she isn’t that heartless.
Looking up at the clock, it is three o’clock in the morning. “As much as I would like to wait up, I am falling asleep at this table.”
Gloria nods, “Me too. Night my Pearl.”
Kissing her daughter, Gloria heads upstairs to go into the spare bedroom.
Natalia smiles as her mom uses her childhood nickname.
Gloria called her Pearl as she said Natalia was so precious and special to her.
Yawning, Natalia takes the coffee cups and she tips the rest of her coffee down the sink and washes up the cups.
She then heads upstairs to her bedroom and gets into bed, keeping her phone on silent as Luc had promised her he would text when Meredith arrived.
At Edenbrooke in the maternity ward, Sienna moans as she feels her abdomen tighten again, it’s not necessarily painful but she is feeling completely exhausted and nauseated. “You’re doing so well Si. It won’t be long now. I promise,” Lucas soothes.
Sienna lies against her pillows, “It could be hours yet and I’ve still six centimetres to go before I’m fully dilated and that doesn’t even factor in how long I could be pushing before she comes out.”
Isla comes in to check Sienna’s blood pressure, “Your blood pressure is steady and Meredith isn’t in distress which means we can let you labour for as long as you need for you to reach ten centimetres. Only if your blood pressure rises or Meredith shows signs of distress we will take you for an emergency caesearan.”
Sienna feels her stomach grumble, “I’m hungry again. Can I keep eating?”
Isla nods, “Yes as you are still in early labour it is safe for you to eat.”
Sienna has a chicken and mayonaise caesar wraps and some melon along with some fruit juice.
She eats in between contractions, during which she leans against the bed and rocks her hips as Lucas gently cradles her from behind. “Is that better? More comfortable?”
Sienna nods, “Slightly yes.”
Sipping a bottle of water, she finishes the last few bites of her wrap.
Luc feeds his wife pieces of melon as Sienna tries her best to focus on the end result – having her baby daughter – her miracle rainbow baby, in her arms.
During a contraction, a particually painful one as her epidural is wearing off, Sienna cries out in pain. “I don’t think I can do this. I’m not strong enough. Please don’t make me do it.”
Luc makes Sienna look at him gently, “You CAN do it Sienna. You’re stronger than you know. And it’s too late to stop it. Meri will be here soon and it will all be worth every second of this agony.”
The anestiologist, Francis, who was at Tori’s birth having adminstered Casey’s epidural, arrives to top up Sienna’s epidural. “Don’t worry Sienna. We’ll soon have this topped up and you’ll feel much better,” he says, kindly.
Sienna nods, “Thank you Francis.”
They were on first name basis as they were collegues and it was more comforting for labouring mothers’.
Soon Sienna’s epidural was topped up and she begins to feel relief. “Is that better?” Isla asks as she places Sienna’s legs in stirrups to check her progress.
Sienna nods, “Yes, I don’t feel any pain, just an uncomfortable sensation during contractions.”
Isla snaps on a pair of rubber gloves and begins to examine Sienna’s cervix, “You are five centimetres dilated. Which means you have gone up one from your last examination.”
Lucas kisses Sienna’s forehead, “You’re amazing Sienna. I’m so proud of you.”
Sienna smiles exhausted, “Tell me something good,” she murmurs.
Lucas remembers that that was something Casey and Raf had always said to Lucy and Enrique.
He smiles, “Do you remember our holiday in Paris when you finally got time off last year?”
Sienna’s eyes light up, “Yes. And you insisted on taking me on a way along the Seine as ‘It is basically named after you, which means we are obliged to do it.’”
Lucas laughs softly and nods, a sound that fills Sienna’s heart with joy even on her worst days. “It’s the truth.”
Sienna sees Lucy pop her head back around the door, “How is –“
A contraction stops her in her tracks, “Ohh.”
Lucas gently massages Sienna’s back, “Just breathe Si. You’re doing so well baby.”
Lucy nods, “Breathe Sienna. In – two. Three. Four. And out. That’s it. Good. Well done.”
Sienna feels the pain ease after forty five seconds, “they’re getting much stronger.”
Lucy smiles at her friend, “What were you saying before your contraction?”
Sienna sips on the water Lucas offers her, “How is Tori?”
Lucy isn’t surprised that Sienna is concerned about their niece, “She was asleep when I last checked in. Casey was too.”
Sienna nods, “That’s good. Casey has been struggling to sleep.”
Isla understands how close Sienna is to Casey, but she wants Sienna to focus on the birth. “Sienna, I want you to focus on yourself from now on and keep your mind on the birth. Afterwards you can ask about Casey and Victoria. Ok?”
Sienna sees a spark of the woman who she had had a run in during Casey’s pregnancy with Lucy and Enrique. “I am aware that this is important. Am I not the one who is in labour?” she growls angrily.
Lucas looks at his wife in shock, he hasn’t seen Sienna angry very often. “It’s alright Sienna, calm down love.”
Sienna turns her glare on her husband, “Don’t you dare tell me to calm down.”
Holding his hands up in surrender, he looks at her apologetically. “Sorry Si. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
He strokes the back of her hand to soothe her.
Sienna sips her drink and lies back against her pillows, feeling exhausted by both her contractions and her rant.
The following five hours go by at a snails pace as Sienna battles contraction after contraction.
Lucas finishes a sandwich in between comforting his wife as he was gently reminded that he couldn’t be there for Sienna in the capicity needed if he didn’t take care of himself as well.
As he finishes the last bite, Sienna’s posture and mannerism changes, “Mmm. It’s happening again,” she gasps.
Lucas gently rubs Sienna’s hips, “Breathe love, you’re doing amazingly well. I know it’s hard but we will have our baby girl soon. I promise.”
Casey is awoken by Tori’s cries as she wakes for her feed. “Mama’s here, Bunny. It’s alright my beautiful girl, I know you’re hungry.”
Taking down the bars of Tori’s hospital crib, Casey gently takes her into her arms, carefully avoiding the drip that is giving her IV antibiotics.
She sits in the hardbacked chair by the crib and opens her nursing pyjama top and gently latches Tori onto her breast.
It is early morning, around six o’clock and Raf is asleep on the bed beside Tori’s crib.
Somehow they manage to squeeze onto the single hospital bed that one of their collegues had wheeled into the room for Casey to sleep on.
Casey’s mind goes to how Lucy and Enrique are doing without her and Raf being at home and putting Tori ahead of them again.
At Casey and Raf’s house, Victoria had had to lay in bed with Lucy the night before when she woke up and was violently sick after a coughing fit.
Victoria smiles at her granddaughter, “Morning Lulu, are you feeling any better?”
Lucy coughs weakly, “No, ‘Lita. I still feel poorly.”
Victoria strokes Lucy’s hair, “Yes amorcita, you will feel poorly until the medicine begins to work.”
Lucy sniffs, “Will Mama and Daddy be home soon?”
Victoria smiles sadly, “Your baby sister needs to stay in hospital for a little while longer. But don’t worry, Tito and I will be here to look after you.”
Lucy sits up, “I’m thirsty. Can I get a drink?”
Victoria ignores that her granddaughter had not said please, “Yes Lulu, I will get you one.”
Leaving Lucy’s bedroom, she goes downstairs and into the kitchen where her husband is already awake. “You’re awake early,” he remarks.
Victoria nods, “Lucy woke up and was thirsty. I’ve come down to get her a drink. She didn’t sleep very well last night. I think I will allow her to stay in bed today after she has had a wash and gotten into fresh pyjamas.”
Rodrigo nods, “Do you want coffee?”
Victoria nods, “Yes, but I will take Lucy’s juice up to her first. Any news from Rafa or Casey about Tori?”
Rodrigo shakes his head, “Nothing.”
Victoria bites her lip, concerned, “I hope she is improving. She is still so small, the very littlest thing can be dangerous for infants.”
Rodrigo stands up and walks over to where his wife is standing and gently takes her into his arms. “Everything will be alright Minha amada.”
Victoria smiles, burying her head in her husband’s body. “I hope so.”
Taking Lucy’s juice upstairs to her, Victoria smiles, “Here you are amorcita.”
Lucy smiles, “Thank you ‘Lita.”
Taking her juice cup, Lucy sips her juice and then puts it on her bedside table. “Has my baby cousin arrived yet?”
Victoria smiles, “I don’t know Lulu. I will have to find out from Natalia.”
Lucy’s eyes light up with excitement, “I can’t wait to see her. Will she be best friends with Tori?”
Victoria laughs softly, “I imagine so. But she will also be friends with you too when she is older.”
She pulls back Lucy’s duvet, which had been changed after she had vomited, “It’s time to get washed. I think you can stay in your ‘jammas today. Would you like that?”
Lucy smiles and nods eagerly, “Can I watch Disney films too?”
Victoria nods, “Yes you can.”
Enrique comes into his sister’s room, “Can I stay in my ‘jammas too ‘Lita?”
Knowing that she can’t say no to one of the twins when she says yes to the other. “Yes Kiko. You can. One day off of Pre Kindy won’t hurt.”
Taking the twins into the bathroom, Victoria helps them wash after filling the sink with warm water.
Back at the hospital Sienna’s labour has progressed, it has now been eight hours since her waters broke.
Isla examines Sienna’s cervix, “You are seven centimetres dilated Sienna. Now you will feel more pressure begin to build in your lower tummy and bottom.”
Lucas gently wipes the sweat from Sienna’s forehead, “You’re doing so well Si. I’m so proud of you.”
Sienna is absolutely exhausted now, “I am absolutely exhausted. I just want to sleep now.”
Lucas is on the bed beside Sienna and cradles her in his arms, “I know baby, it won’t be much longer.”
As Sienna’s next contraction begins she cries out in agony, “Argh. Mmmhmm.”
Lucas strokes her back soothingly, “That’s it love, just breathe, you’re doing so well. I’m so proud of you.”
Sienna changes her position and Isla and Lucas help her move on to all fours. “This will help Meredith move down the birth canal and keep your hips open,” Isla explains. “it’s a common and popular position to deliver in.”
Lucas rubs Sienna’s back and the top of her hips, “Is that helping love?”
Sienna nods, “Yes. Thank you.”
Lucas shakes his head and strokes Sienna’s hair, “You don’t need to thank me for anything Sienna. I’m here to do whatever I can to help you through this. If you want or need anything just tell me and it will be done.”
Sienna feels a contraction begin, “I feel another one coming.”
Lucas gently rubs Sienna’s back and hips as she pants through the beginning of the contraction. “Breathe Sienna. In, one, two, three, four. And out. That’s it. Very good,” Isla commands gently.
After the contraction mercifully ends, Sienna sips on some Lucozade Sport Orange, “I’m so thirsty,” she gasps as she sips and sips on the drink until the bottle is half empty.
Luckily they had packed several bottles of each drink to give Sienna a choice.
Sienna feels nausea wash over her and she tugs on Luc’s arm to get his attention, “Luc, I’m going to be sick.”
Lucas gets a sick bowl just in time for his wife to vomit. “I’ve got you Sienna. You’re ok, love.”
Sienna stops vomiting and leans against her husband exhausted, but then she feels an agonising cramp in her lower leg. “I’ve got cramp in my leg. My right leg.”
She changes position to allow Lucas to massage her leg. “There is that helping love?”
As Sienna feels the pain in her leg begin to ease, she lays back against the stacked pillows. “Yes. The cramp is gone.”
Sienna moves onto all fours again as she feels this is the most comfortable position for her during contractions.
In what feels like a blink of an eye, Sienna feels another contraction begin. “Ooh, it’s happening again.”
Lucas gently rubs Sienna’s hips with one hand and allows her to squeeze the other. “Just breathe Si. You’re doing really well love. I’m right here.”
Sienna feels fear wash over her, “Stay with me. Please Luc. Don’t leave me. I’m scared,” she moans as the pain increases and eventually peaks.
Lucas looks at his wife lovingly, “Shh. It’s alright Si. I’m here baby. I won’t leave you.”
Sienna cries out as the contraction peaks and Lucy internally winces as the sound bounces off the walls.
As the contraction ends, Sienna feels like her legs have gone to jelly. “I don’t think I can do this,” she says.
Lucas smiles at Sienna lovingly, “You can baby. You’re already doing so well. Just imagine the moment when Meri is placed in your arms and she opens her eyes,” he soothes.
Upstairs in the children’s ward, Casey has had a shower whilst Tori naps and Raf has gone out to get them some croissants and strawberry jam and coffee for breakfast.
He meets Harper on the way to the bakery to get the croissants and she agrees to allow him to use the coffee machine in the doctors’ lounge.
When Raf comes back with the croissants he goes into the doctors’ lounge and gets Casey an espresso Romano and an oridinary espresso for himself before taking them both upstairs to Tori’s room.
Casey is nursing their daughter when he comes in, “Is she managing to nurse ok?”
Smiling at Tori, Casey nods, “Yes. Although I had to coax her to take my breast to begin with.”
Aurora knocks on the door and pops her head around, “That’s common Casey. Don’t worry. But keep offering your breast to her and feed her when she shows hunger cues.”
Casey smiles, “Morning. Have you heard anything more about Sienna? How her labour is going?”
Aurora nods, “The last I heard she was seven centimetres dilated and her contractions were every three minutes.”
Casey nods, remembering it all too well, “The wait to begin pushing can be the most draining. At least it was for me with Tori.”
Aurora frowns, “Remind me never to have kids.”
Casey smiles playfully, “oh don’t say that. Don’t deprive Harper of having another baby in the family.”
Aurora shoves Casey gently, “She’ll just have to feel deprived because I am not giving birth.”
She sits down, “How are you? I mean your recovery from Tori’s birth? It’s only been a little over three weeks.”
Casey sighs, “I’m still bleeding, well the lochia hasn’t stopped. That’s likely to continue for the next three weeks. But hopefully it will be over by my six week post partum check up.”
She looks at Tori in her crib, “I just hope she’s back to herself by then.”
Tears fill Casey’s eyes, “I hate this. I hate seeing my baby connected to tubes. It makes her look even more tiny.”
Aurora wraps her arms around Casey as she cries, “I’m sure she will be better soon.”
Casey wipes her eyes after a moment, “And to make matters worse Lucy’s ill too. I feel torn in two.”
Aurora bites her lip, “Sometimes you have to choose. It’s not a nice thing to have to do but sometimes it’s necessary.”
Casey nods, “Yes. You’re right. Tori’s more vulnerable. She needs me. It’s not as if Lucy won’t have anyone to comfort her if she needs it.”
She picks up her croissant and bites into it. “Mm, the café down the road does amazing croissants.”
Aurora nods, “I think that’s where the ones in the doctors lounge come from, but I could be wrong.”
Casey wipes crumbs from her mouth as Raf comes out of the bathroom. “Your coffee will be cold at this rate.”
Aurora stands up, “I’ll leave you both to enjoy your breakfast in peace. My rounds are starting soon.”
Hugging Casey gently, she smiles at Tori as she sleeps, “Keep fighting little one,” she whispers, sounding surprisingly choked up.
When Casey and Raf are alone, Casey’s shoulders slump, “I hate this. Lucy must be feeling abandoned.”
Raf drains his coffee cup and walks over to where Casey is sitting. “I know it hurts sweetheart, but we haven’t got a choice. Tori’s just a tiny baby.”
Casey nods, “That’s why I didn’t go home when I heard Lucy was ill.”
Raf gently wraps Casey in a comforting embrace, “How about I go home for a couple of hours and check on Lucy? Would that make you feel better?”
Casey smiles as she leans into Raf’s embrace, “Yes. I think so.”
She looks up, “I’m worried though. Lucy will no doubt want to see Meredith when she’s born. But there’s no way in Hell I am putting a baby who is barely one day old at risk.”
Raf nods, “We’ll just have to explain that Lucy’s too unwell and Meredith is vulnerable to illness so she can’t see her until the illness clears up.”
Casey ponders and nods, “I think she would understand that.”
After she has finished her coffee and croissant, Casey heads into the bathroom to take her shower before Tori wakes up for her next feed.
Sienna pants heavily as she comes to the end of another painful contraction. “I’m so tired. Please let this end soon,” she gasps.
Lucas gently wipes sweat away from her forehead, “You’re doing really well Sienna. I know it hurts but the end result, our baby girl, will be worth every second. I promise.”
Sienna has been in labour for seven hours and is feeling completely exhausted after not getting any sleep the last three nights after becoming increasingly uncomfortable in the latter stage of pregnancy.
Isla puts on a fresh pair of gloves, “I’m going to check your cervix again Sienna. You’re doing really well. It’s common for first time mothers to have long labours.”
Placing Sienna’s legs in stirrups again, Isla begins to examine her cervix for further dilation. “Please tell me something has changed.”
Despite her contractions continuing, Sienna had stalled at seven centimetres for the past three hours.
Isla nods, “You’re eight centimetres dilated now. So all being well you will be able to go to the delivery room in two hours.”
Sienna feels a rush of relief, “Thank goodness.”
Isla smiles reassuringly, “You’re doing really well Sienna. Just hang on a little longer.”
Sienna sips on some water in between her most recent contractions. “I’m so tired.”
Tears fill her eyes, “I don’t think I can do this again,” she whimpers.
Lucas shakes his head, “Don’t worry about that now love, just focus on today.”
Sienna is helped off the bed so she can empty her bladder, “I need to pee.”
Lucy helps Sienna on to a commode and she empties her bladder before she is helped back on to the bed.
As she kneels on her hands and knees on all fours, Sienna tries to imagine her happy place.
Somehow she is able to lapse into a daydream.
Sienna puts on a pretty pink dress and black heels as she gets ready for a surprise date with Lucas.
He had a habit of surprising her on her days off with special trips.
Either to have couples massage or a romantic dinner in her favourite restraunt or one of her favourites which Lucas had surprised her with for her birthday, an afternoon tea.
Today he had promised her it would be something new.
The doorbell rings and she puts her earrings in and heads out.
Answering it she smiles, “Don’t you look handsome,” she smiles, kissing his cheek.
Lucas smiles, “Is that dress new? It suits you.”
Sienna nods, “I bought it on a recent shopping trip with Casey. She helped me pick it out.”
She notices the flowers, “Oh these are lovely.”
Taking them, she beckons him to follow her into the kitchen where she looks for a vase. “So, are you going to give me some hints as to where we’re off to?”
Lucas winks, “Absolutely not.”
Aurora comes in after a shift, “Oh, don’t mind me. I’m just heading into the bathroom for a long, hot bath. My muscles are killing me.”
Saying goodbye to Sienna, Aurora goes into her bedroom and Sienna turns to Lucas, “So are we going now?”
Lucas nods and takes Sienna’s hand, she closes the door and they head to the car.
Twenty minutes later they approach a beautiful park and Lucas parks the car. “I need to get something out of the boot.”
He gets out a picnic basket and to Sienna’s surprise a bottle of champagne. “Let’s go.”
As they sit and chat and eat happily, Sienna smiles catches Lucas as he stares at her. “How long did you plan this? And more importantly, did Raf help?”
She giggles and he can see she’s just teasing.
Lucas laughs, “About two weeks and yes he did as a matter of fact.”
Sienna picks up a piece of French batton and Brie and bites into it. “Mmm, this tastes amazing.”
She swallows, “I love it, but I have to ask, why did you decide on a picnic?”
Lucas squeezes her hand, “It was a nice day and I know you enjoy being out in the fresh air. We can also go for a walk in the grounds of the nearby castle if you’d like?”
Sienna suddenly remembers there is a castle nearby, “I’d like that.”
Lucas smiles, “Good.”
He leans across and pulls her on to his lap, kissing her sweetly. “I love you Sienna.”
Sienna smiles, her eyes dancing with joy, “I love you too Luc.”
Sienna is taken out of the memory by a contraction, “It’s alright Si, I’ve got you, just breathe,” Lucas soothes, easing her through the pain.
Shivering violently Sienna breathes through the contraction as she tries to focus on the blurry memory of the day dream she had just had.
When the contraction ends after ninety seconds, Sienna is still shivering violently. “It’s so cold,” she mumbles, feeling slightly out of it.
Lucas gently rubs Sienna’s arms, “It’s just the shock from the pain. You’ll warm up soon.”
He picks up the bottle of Lucozade Sport and opens it and holds it to Sienna’s mouth as she drinks. “I’m so tired,” she says after swallowing.
Putting the bottle down, Lucas lifts Sienna’s hand and kisses it softly, “I know. You’ll get some rest soon. Once it’s all over you can rest.”
Sienna gasps as she feels another contraction begin only thirty seconds after the last, now the contractions are almost on top of each other.
She squeezes Lucas’ hand tightly as she tries to breathe through the agonising pain.
Seeing his hand turn bright red, Lucas tries to forget the pain he is in as he knows it’s not a tenth of what Sienna is going through as she battles to bring their daughter into the world.
He gently soothes her, “You’re amazing Sienna. It hurts now but soon it will be over and our girl will be here. Just remember how much we want her.”
Sienna feels the contraction end and feels herself come back to reality. “They are becoming unbearable.”
After that, Sienna has her epidural topped up for a third time.
Isla is impressed by how well Sienna is coping despite needing the epidural. “You are doing really well Sienna. A lot of first time moms don’t cope for this long before begging for casearans.”
Sienna can barely muster a smile as she is so tired and in pain.
In the children’s ward, Raf gets ready to go home to check on Lucy. “Tell Lucy that I love her and I’ll be home as soon as possible,” Casey says.
Kissing his wife, Raf nods, “I will sweetheart. Don’t feel guilty. There is nothing you can do.”
Jackie pops her head in, “I heard on the grapevine that Sienna’s doing well but she’s not fully dilated yet.”
She scrunches her face up.
Casey nods, “That’s for the update Jac. Giving birth isn’t that disgusting. It’s the most natural thing we can do. It’s what women were created for.”
Jackie shakes her head, “Not this woman,” she says pointing to herself.
Casey looks at her friend playfully, “Says the woman who has my five year old twins wrapped around her little finger.”
Jackie smiles, “Well, I didn’t have to give birth to them, did I? And I can hand them back after a few hours when they get arguementitive.”
Casey laughs, “You don’t need to worry about them being arguementitive. Not yet anyway. They are only five.”
Saying goodbye to Casey and giving Tori a kiss on the cheek, Raf leaves to go home to check on Lucy.
At home, Victoria settles Lucy and Enrique on the couch with a duvet. “What would you two like for breakfast?”
The twins smile almost imeddiately, “Dippy eggs and toasted soilders.”
Victoria nods, “Ok. Dippy eggs it is.”
Lucy tugs on her grandmother’s arm, “Can I have my dippy egg mashed in a cup?”
Victoria smiles, “Yes tereso. Of course you can.”
Going into the kitchen, Victoria fills a pot with water and sets it on to the hob to boil before she takes out two eggs and places them into the pot and sets a timer as she knows both twins love a runny yolk, much like their mother.
She hears the door open and smiles as her husband arrives after taking Belle, the family pet, for her morning walk. “How are the children?”
Victoria smiles, “Good. They are watching Cinderella on the couch and I’m making them dippy eggs and toasted soilders for breakfast.”
Her phone vibrates and she goes to look at it, smiling when she sees it’s Raf. Hi Mama, I’m coming home for a couple of hours to see Lucy and Enrique. Did Lucy sleep well last night? Tori’s struggling with her feeds but Casey has managed to coax her into nursing.
Rodrigo takes off his coat, “Natalia?”
Victoria shakes her head, “No. Rafa. He’s coming home to see how Lucy is. Tori’s not feeding too well but she’s taking in some milk which is good. She’s probably feeling too poorly bless her.”
After the timer goes off, Victoria takes the eggs off the hob and takes the eggs out before rolling one on the hard surface of the chopping board to crack the shell and then peels it.
She places Enrique’s in an egg cup and slices off the top placing it next to the egg cup on a tea plate.
Taking out the slices of toast, she slices the toast into soilders before placing them next to the egg cup.
Placing Lucy’s egg into a tea cup, she mashes it with a fork.
When it’s appropriately mashed, Victoria places the cup on a tea plate and then goes to the fridge to get the carton of orange juice out to pour the twins some juice to go with their breakfast.
Lucy comes into the kitchen, “’Lita, I need to use the bathroom.”
Victoria smiles, “Ok Tereso. You go and use the toilet. Your breakfast will be waiting for you when you finish. Remember to wash your hands.”
Lucy coughs and rubs her chest as it burns, “Yes ‘Lita.”
Heading into the downstairs bathroom, Lucy closes the door.
Victoria frowns at her husband, “Poor Lucy, she’s trying to be brave but I know she’s missing her Mama.”
Rodrigo rubs Victoria’s shoulders, “Hopefully Casey and Tori will be home soon.”
Just then the front door opens as their son arrives home to see his son and older daughter.
Enrique hears the front door opens and jumps off the couch and runs out of the living room. “Daddy!”
He jumps into Raf’s arms before he can even take his coat off, earning a chuckle from Raf as he hugs his son. “Hey Kiko. Are you ok?”
Seeing his son is in his pyjamas, Raf begins to worry he has fallen ill too. “’Lita said I could stay in my jammas too,” Enrique explains before he could ask.
Nodding, Raf smiles, “Well that’s fun isn’t it? A day off Pre Kindy in your jammas watching cartoons.”
Enrique frowns, “Is Mama coming home too?”
Raf gently strokes his son’s hair, “Mama can’t come home yet, Tori’s still poorly.”
Lucy comes out of the bathroom after using the toilet. “Daddy!”
She runs into his arms, a cough racking her body after her excited exclamation.
Raf rubs Lucy’s back as she continues to cough. “Oh dear Lulu, you really are poorly, aren’t you?”
He presses his hand against her forehead, she’s burning up. “Poor Sunshine. Go through and get your breakfast before it gets cold.”
Raf goes into the kitchen, “Hi Mama. Thank you for looking after them. It’s not been easy as Tori’s so little it’s hit her harder than it would for older babies.”
Victoria nods, “No need to thank me anjo, I’m here to help. How’s Casey?”
Raf sighs, “It’s difficult for her as Tori’s so small, she feels guilty for taking her to the wedding. Wondering if we should have left her with Sandy.”
Victoria shakes her head sadly, “It’s a guessing game with babies that young. You want to keep them out of the cold but need to keep them close.”
She smiles, “Would you like some breakfast?”
Raf shakes his head, “No thank you. Casey and I had some earlier.”
Victoria goes over to put the kettle on, “Have you heard anyone at the hospital mention how Sienna is doing?”
Raf nods, “She was eight centimetres dilated when I left. Hopefully it won’t be much longer until Meredith arrives.”
After he takes his coffee, Raf goes into the living room where Lucy and Enrique are finishing their eggs and toast and orange juice.
Lucy smiles, “Watch this with us Daddy. Please?”
Raf smiles, sighing dramatically, “Oh go on then. Budge up a bit.”
Settled between his twins, Raf looks at the tv, the scene where Cinderella’s evil stepsisters Anastasia and Drizella see her in her mother’s dress which Cinderella and the mice had done up with things found around the house.
The twins gasp as the sisters begin to tear things off of Cinderella’s dress, leaving her once again in rags.
They laugh as she runs off in tears and they, along with their mother head off to the carriage that will take them to the Palace.
Lucy frowns, “That was mean, wasn’t it Daddy?”
Enrique nods, concurring with his sister’s assesment, “they were bad for making her cry. You’re supposed to be kind to your sisters, aren’t you Daddy?”
Raf nods, “Yes you are, that’s right.”
The twins turn back to the screen where Cinderella is sobbing in the forest and suddenly a bright light appears and her fairy god mother appears.
They watch in amazement as the Fairy God Mother waves her magic wand and sites the magic words “Bibbity Bobbity Boo,” and then Cinderella is suddenly in a beautiful blue dress and stunning glass slippers.
Lucy’s eyes grow wide in delight, “She looks so pretty. Much prettier than the pink dress.”
Raf nods, “I agree.”
Lucy smiles, “Maybe you should buy Mama a dress like that. She is a Princess after all.”
Enrique shakes his head, “No Lulu, Mama’s a Queen.”
Raf smiles amused, although he agrees completely with his son’s judgement.
Lucy coughs violently again and buries her head into Raf’s chest, he gently rubs her back until the coughing fit ends. “That sounds sore sweetie.”
Lucy nods, “It is. My throat hurts too.”
Victoria beckons her son out of the room, “I know it’s early in the day, but I think either ice cream or a popsicle would help soothe Lucy’s throat. If you hadn’t been here I’d have given it to her using my own judgement, but I always promised you that if you or Casey were home and I had to make a particular choice in doing something for the children I’d ask first.”
Raf looks up at the clock, it’s ten o’clock. “It is early but since she’s sick all bets are off. After all I got to do things that I’d not necessarily be allowed to do when I was sick.”
Victoria smiles, “Very true.”
Going back into the living room, Raf smiles at Lucy, “Lulu, would you like some ice cream or a popsicle for your throat?”
Lucy nods, “Strawberry ice cream please Daddy.”
Raf smiles, “Would you like some ice cream to Enrique?”
Enrique’s eyes grow wide but he nods, “Yes please.”
Going into the kitchen, Raf gets out the pints of strawberry and chocolate ice cream and places two scoops of each into Lucy and Enrique’s bowls before putting the ice cream back in the freezer.
He goes and gives the twins their ice cream and then sits down between them to finish watching the film.
Lucy swallows a spoonful of ice cream and looks at Raf, “Daddy, will my baby cousin be here soon?”
Raf smiles, “I hope so sweetie but I can’t say for sure.”
At the hospital, Sienna is breathing through another contraction as Lucas comforts her, “You’re doing really well love, keep going. Our little Dolphin will be here soon.”
Sienna falls against her pillows on the bed panting heavily, her hair and birthing gown soaked with sweat. “The pressure is getting too intense,” she says, indicating the pressure in her bottom.
Lucas gently smooths her sweat drenched hair away from her forehead and kisses the damp skin. “I know it’s uncomfortable but that’s a good sign.”
He looks at Megan who is looking after Sienna, “Right?”
Megan nods, “Yes, the pressure in your bottom is a good sign.”
She smiles kindly at Sienna, “I can do something to take your mind off of the pain and the pressure if you’d like? I could put on some music and turn down the lights. I can also light some aromatherapy candles.”
Sienna moans softly, “My phone has some music on it. Can I listen to it?”
Megan nods and goes into Sienna’s hospital bag she had packed for delivery and also with Meredith’s things.
She finds the playlist as Sienna has labelled it Labour playlist.
Megan turns it on, “Which song do you want?”
Sienna pants heavily as the contraction ends, “It doesn’t matter.”
Lucas smiles, “All Of Me by John Legend.”
Megan nods and puts it on and as the song begins and the lyrics fill the room, Sienna feels calmer.
Megan smiles, “Better?”
Sienna nods, “Yes.”
She smiles at Lucas and he strokes her hand, “We’ll get through this Si. I promise. Together we can do anything.”
He kisses her sweetly.
Sienna feels another contraction begin thirty seconds later, “It’s starting again,” she moans as she rocks from side to side on her hands and knees.
Lucas gently rubs her back and her lower hips and the top of her bottom. “Is that helping at all?”
Sienna nods, moaning her answer, “mmm.”
Flashes in front of her eyes at the height of the contraction make Sienna feel like she is on another planet altogether as the pain takes over.
She cries out loudly as the contraction peaks and howls until she feels it beginning to ebb away and she collaspes.
Sienna has tears streaming down her face. “I can’t do it anymore. I want a c – section.”
Lucas shakes his head and looks at his wife sympathetically, “It’s too late love. But I promise you can do it. You are the strongest woman I’ve ever met. You have gone through so much and still came out on top. You can do this too.”
Sienna has been in labour an astonishing thirteen hours and still isn’t fully dilated, she is now desperate for the pain to end, all excitement she felt earlier in labour about seeing her daughter for the first time, washed away in a sea of agony.
The contraction ends and Sienna collaspes on the bed with exhaustion. “I just want it to be over now.”
Her eyes flutter as she fights to keep them open, “It won’t be long now Sienna. You’re doing very well,” Isla encourages.
Sienna smiles exhausted, “Thank you.”
Isla examines Sienna again two hours after her last exam, “You are still not there yet but you are now nine centimetres dilated. One more and we will move you to the delivery suite.”
Upstairs in the children’s ward, it is now two o’clock in the afternoon and Casey is nursing Tori as she waits for Raf to come back from visiting Lucy and Enrique.
Her husband had texted earlier to say that Lucy was quite poorly with her throat and her chest but had been given antibiotics.
Casey strokes Tori’s cheek, “You have to get better Tori. Mama needs you to get better,” she whispers.
Although the doctor in Casey knows that Brochilolitis is treatable with antibiotics, the mother in her is terrified that it could develop into something much more serious and Tori might end up needing to be in intensive care.
Half an hour later Raf arrives back at the hospital as Casey is placing Tori down for a nap after one of the nurses had come in to give her a painkiller through the cannula in her tiny hand.
Casey feels relief wash over her as she sees Raf come back. “Thank goodness you’re back, I’m really struggling.”
Raf frowns, “What’s the matter sweetheart? Has Tori gotten worse?”
Casey nods, “Slightly, yes. She needed pain relief as she was coughing violently and then screaming in pain.”
Raf takes off his jacket and walks over to Casey, he sits down on the bed and wraps her in his arms. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sweetheart.”
Casey looks up at Raf with tears in her eyes, “We had no choice, Lucy’s poorly too.”
As the painrelief takes effect, Tori falls asleep in her crib and soon is settled.
Casey wipes her eyes, “How was Lucy?”
Raf smiles, “She was feeling pretty bad with a lot of coughing fits and a sore chest but luckily she had Cinderella to take her mind off of the pain.”
Casey smiles, “She always has enjoyed watching Cinderella. In fact so did I. It’s scary to think it was out in 1950. In fact it’s older than my mom !”
She smiles at that thought, “At least that’s another thing we can all have in common.”
Casey remembers back when she was choosing her wedding dress and her mom had tried to get her to wear the dress she had worn when she had married her dad.
Something she had visably baulked at.
She shudders at THAT thought.
Raf frowns, “What’s wrong?”
Casey smiles, “Nothing, just the memory of when Mom tried to get me to wear her wedding dress. ‘We can get it taken out. That won’t be a problem.’
She puts on a thick Califorinian accent.
Standing up, Casey yawns, “I need to pee. I wanted to wait until you got back. I don’t like leaving her at the best of times, but especially when she’s poorly.”
Leaving Tori’s room and heading out of the children’s ward, Casey sees the board that shows you the way to various floors and she frowns seeing directions to the maternity ward, thinking of Sienna who had been in labour for over eleven hours now.
Heading to the bathroom, Casey walks into the stall and closes the door.
She walks over to the toilet and pulls down her jeggings and pants before sitting down.
Her heart aches as she thinks of how quickly the last three – almost four, weeks have gone.
It doesn’t seem possible that the tiny little baby who looked like she could smile right from birth, could be a month old in just a couple of days.
After she has finished using the toilet, Casey wipes herself and changes her sanitary towel, placing the soiled one in the bin next to the toilet.
Pulling her jeggings and pants up, Casey flushes the toilet and opens the lock on the stall door.
Walking over to the toilet, she turns on the taps as someone else comes in.
Sienna’s collegue Catherine smiles, “Hi Casey. Are you ok?”
Casey nods, “Yes thanks Catherine. I’m just exhausted. My younger daughter is in the children’s ward with bronchiolitis. And my older daughter is at home with a chest infection and tonsilitis. I feel like I am being torn in two.”
Catherine smiles sympathetically, “I’m sorry Casey. I hope both girls are better soon. They are sweethearts.”
She heads into the stall but stops, “You’re close to Sienna Trihn right? How is she?”
Casey smiles, “Giving birth as we speak.”
Catherine’s eyes grow wide, “Wow. I hope everything goes well for her.”
Saying goodbye, Casey goes back to Tori’s room.
As she walks in, she smiles as she sees Raf watching Tori with a wistful look on his face. “You’re thinking of how fast the last four weeks have gone too, huh?”
Raf looks up and nods, “Yes. It doesn’t feel that long since we were downstairs, does it?”
Casey shakes her head, mournfully, “No. If I could go back to her first few days I would in a heartbeat. I know, I know. We’ll have a lot of moments to come but it still aches that she won’t be a tiny baby for much longer.”
Raf reaches out and takes Casey’s hand, squeezing softly before pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her as she wraps hers around his waist as they stand there together watching their youngest ‘baby’ sleep.
Sienna can barely tell the passage of time anymore as one contraction bleeds into the next.
She has become desperate for the all consuming pain to end and for her daughter to be placed in her arms.
Murmurs are spoken but she can’t take in the words. “It’s time for us to move you to the delivery room,” Isla repeats.
Sienna shakes her head, “Really? Oh at last.”
The bed is moved placed on the brake and Sienna is helped into a wheelchair, before Megan wheels her out of the room.
As Casey goes back into Tori’s room her mind wanders to how Sienna’s getting on. “I wonder how Sienna’s doing?”
Raf shrugs, “I’m not sure sweetheart, hopefully she’s nearing the end. It’s been a long time for her and she’s probably exhausted.”
Casey nods, “I remember it all too well.”
A soft knock makes Casey turn around, Esme comes in. “Hi, how’s she doing?”
Casey smiles, “After some medicine she managed to stop coughing violently and managed to nurse for ten minutes before she was changed and fell asleep.”
Esme frowns, “Isn’t ten minutes a bit short for a baby at three weeks old?”
Casey nods, “Usually, but I wasn’t forcing her.”
Esme nods, “Have you heard any more about Sienna?”
Casey shakes her head, “No. I hope we do soon. I am worried about her. She was so scared about giving birth.”
Esme smiles, “So were you the first time.”
Casey nods, “In my defence I had to go through the whole pushing part twice. So I should have had a little more sympathy.”
Esme’s eyes twinkle and Casey can tell before she even opens her mouth she is going to come up with something sarcastic. “Well I know you married someone who looks like a carbon copy of the hottest singer on the planet but you COULD HAVE kept your legs crossed.”
Casey laughs, “Very funny.”
Esme winks, “In your defence I’d have found it increasingly difficult too,’ she says, reffering to her raging crush on Raf during her intern year.
Casey has learnt to just laugh it off by now, secure in her marriage and Raf’s fidelity and their love for each other.
Esme smiles, “Despite her fears labour and delivery wise, Sienna does seem to be excited about being a mom.”
Casey nods, not wanting to tell Esme the things Sienna told her in confidence about how she is terrified that she fears she won’t be able to love Meredith like she knew she would love Brianna.
Esme goes to check Tori’s vitals, “This was the main reason I came in.”
Casey bites her lip, “Is she ok?”
Esme frowns slightly, “It says her temperature is up slightly but that’s just the infection. Nothing to worry about.”
Casey is amazed at the confident, self assured young woman who is checking her daughter over as opposed to the terrified young girl who sobbed in her arms after she accidently overdosed a patient causing his death.
Esme smiles, “Hopefully depending on her blood test results when the antibiotics are finished, you’ll be able to take her home.”
Casey feels relief flow out of her. “The sooner the better. Lucy needs me too.”
Esme nods, “Is she ok? Or is she just missing your amazing cuddles?”
Casey shakes her head, “She’s got a chest infection and tonsilitis.”
Esme shakes her head, “Well they do say bad things come in threes don’t they?”
She turns to Raf, “How is Juliana? I’ve had a few patients with osteoarthritis and they say it hurts like a mother –“
Esme stops even though Tori is only three weeks old and can’t repeat her words.
Raf smiles, grateful that she is concerned, “She’s struggling and on some pretty heavy painkillers but still insists on being more concerned about Tori than her own pain.”
Esme smiles, “That’s what great grandmas are for.”
Casey smiles, “Did you know yours?”
Esme shakes her head, “No. She died before I was born.”
Casey frowns sympathetically, “I’m sorry.”
Esme smiles, “Don’t be. She was ninety seven when she died.”
Tori’s hungry cries cut through the almost silent room, “Are you hungry Bunny?” Casey smiles, gently taking down the rails and lifting Tori into her arms.
Sitting in the hardbacked chair and opening her nursing top and bra, she latches Tori onto her breast and Tori begins to nurse.
Downstairs in the delivery room, Sienna begins to feel another contraction wash over her. “Ok Sienna, when you’re ready I need you to push Ok?” Isla says.
Feeling the overwhelming agonising pressure in her bottom, coupled with the agonising pain of the contraction, Sienna takes a deep breath. “It won’t be much longer Si. You can do it,” Lucas soothes.
Pushing as hard as she can, Sienna waits until she is told to stop. “Ok you can stop now.”
As each of the contractions come and go, Sienna continues to push.
Isla nods as she waits for Meredith’s head to appear, “You’re doing really well Sienna. Keep going.”
At Casey and Raf’s home, Victoria puts Lucy into her bed for a nap, “Get some rest querida. It will make you feel much better.”
Lucy clutches her pony, Rainbow Bright, “Will my cousin be here soon?”
Victoria kisses the top of Lucy’s head, “I hope so sweet girl. Are you excited to be a big cousin?”
Lucy nods, “Yes. Will she be Tori’s best friend?”
Victoria laughs softly, “I think so, hopefully.”
After Lucy has closed her eyes, Victoria leaves her to nap.
Although Lucy had long since stopped taking naps, Victoria reasons that she is poorly and when you’re poorly you can nap if you want to.
And Casey had said that sleep does help the body recover faster.
Victoria goes downstairs where Enrique is painting in his and Lucy’s playroom. “What are you painting Enrique?”
Enrique looks at his grandmother, “An ambulance.”
Victoria looks at what is supposed to be an ambulance that her grandson has painted on the white paper. “I’m sure Mama and Daddy will be impressed by it.”
Enrique puts his paintbrush down, “Is Lucy still poorly?”
Victoria nods, “Yes, she’s sleeping.”
Enrique nods sadly, “Mama said sleep makes you feel better when you’re poorly.”
Victoria smiles, nodding, “Yes. She does.”
Enrique looks at his grandmother, “Then if sleep makes you better when you’re poorly, why do we need yucky medicines?”
Victoria smiles, “Some illnesses need something stronger than sleep to make someone better.”
Enrique frowns, “Mama said sleep made Daddy better when he had an accident when Lucy and I were in her tummy.”
Victoria hadn’t known that Casey and Raf had explained his accident to the twins. “When did Mama tell you that?”
Enrique thinks, trying to remember. “Before Tori came out of her tummy.”
Victoria nods, “Oh Ok.”
Enrique sits on a beanbag, “Daddy’s squiggles don’t hurt anymore.”
Victoria smiles, “Luckily they don’t. No.”
Enrique smiles, “Can I have a snack? I’m hungry.”
Victoria nods and holds her hand out. “Come on then.”
She takes her grandson into the kitchen to find him a snack.
Deciding on a turkey deli meat and avocado roll up, Victoria gets the ingridients out of the fridge and soon puts them together.
She then pours a glass of milk to go with it, “Here you go.”
Enrique picks up one of the rolled up slices and pops it into his mouth. “Mmm.”
Although a lot of children turn their noses up at avocados, Enrique isn’t one of them, since Casey and Raf had given it to him and Lucy since they had been weaned in an attempt to get them to accept a different array of fruits and vegetables.
Soon Enrique has finished his snack, “I’m finished.”
Victoria smiles, “Good boy. Go and wash your hands and you can watch some tv whilst we wait for your sister to wake up from her nap then it’ll be dinner time.”
Suddenly her phone vibrates. Hi Vic. Did you feel like you were going absolutely stir crazy waiting for Casey to give birth? I swear I am at risk of wearing holes in my carpets.
Victoria smiles as she remembers feeling exactly the same only three weeks earlier. It is difficult having to wait. Hopefully you’ll hear news soon. You can come over here for dinner if you’d like?
Enrique looks up, “Who’s that ‘Lita?”
Victoria smiles as she looks up from her phone, “Aunt Nat.”
Enrique nods, “Oh Ok. Is she excited to be a Gramma?”
Victoria laughs, “Oh yes. Very excited.”
At the hospital as Casey places Tori in her crib and looks up at the clock, she wonders how Sienna is doing. “I hope the baby arrives soon. Sienna must be exhausted. She was in labour when we spoke last night – although she didn’t know it.”
Raf smiles, “Hopefully we’ll hear more soon.”
In the delivery room, Sienna has been pushing for over an hour and there is still no sign of Meredith arriving. “I can’t do it anymore,” she cries, feeling completely depleated of energy.
Lucas tries his best to soothe her, “You can Sienna. You’ve done so well so far. Just a little bit longer.”
Sobbing as she feels the need to push again, Sienna closes her eyes and prays she will hear a cry soon.
Isla nods encouragingly, “You’re doing really well Sienna. The baby’s head’s finally crowning. Now I need you to listen to me very carefully. I need you to alternate between tiny pushes and panting, Ok? You think you can do that?”
Sienna nods, even though she isn’t sure if she can. “Tiny push Sienna,” Isla says in a commanding voice.
She nods, “Good. Keep going. Now pant. You’re doing well.”
Isla guides Meredith’s head out, “push again on your next contraction and her shoulders will be out.”
Overcome with her next contraction, Sienna pushes again and feels a burning sensation along with something else, which she will find out is a minor tear.
After seventeen hours in labour and three hours of pushing, Sienna is done, completely exhausted, but she knows it’s not done yet.
Soon Isla smiles at her, “One more push Sienna, you’re almost done.”
Lucas strokes Sienna’s hand, “Our baby girl’s nearly here Sienna. Just one more love. Just one more.”
Summoning her minscule strength, Sienna takes a breath and pushes as hard as she can.
Another sensation soon overcomes her as she feels her daughter enter the world, leaving the cocoon she had nutured her in for the last nine months.
Meredith takes a breath and wails loudly, a kitten like mewl.
Sienna struggles to sit up to look at her daughter, “Where is she?”
Megan gently takes Meredith in her arms and places her on Sienna’s bare chest, “Here you go Mama.”
Sienna wasn’t sure if she ever believed in ‘love at first sight,’ but as she looks down at her daughter, she feels an overwhelming rush of love.
She looks up from Meri to where Luc is standing beside her. “She’s really here.”
Bending down to kiss Sienna, Luc smiles, “I’m so proud of you Sienna. You’ve been amazing. She’s perfect.”
Sienna’s eyes fill with tears, “Hi Meri,” she whispers, bending down to kiss her daughter.
Isla smiles, “Ok Sienna, I need you to hand her over. You still have to deliver the placenta. But don’t worry. You’ll have her back in your arms in a few moments.”
Kissing her baby once more, she hands her over to her daddy and smiles. “I think Daddy wants a cuddle Little Dolphin.”
Gently taking their daughter into his arms, Luc looks down at this tiny little human he and Sienna had created. “Hello gorgeous girl.”
Sienna has soon delivered the placenta and has Meredith back in her arms for the “golden hour.”
Isla helps her latch Meri onto her breast, “That’s it.”
She smiles, “We’ll get you two upstairs to the postnatal ward.”
Sienna smiles at Meri sleepily, “You’re so beautiful.”
Soon Sienna and Meredith are in a room on the post natal ward and Sienna is cradling her after her feed and she has been dressed. “How could I ever think I couldn’t love you?” she whispers, tears of sorrow and regret and exhaustion pouring down her cheeks.
Lucas strokes Sienna’s hair which is straw like with dried sweat from the birth. “You didn’t know Sienna, you don’t need to cry. It’s ok.”
Sienna shakes her head, “But how could I have thought I wouldn’t love her? She’s just innocent.”
Lucas gently sits on the bed beside Sienna and wraps his arm around her and she lays her head on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about how you felt. Just focus on how you feel now she’s here in our arms.”
Sienna nods, “Casey was right, this is the most wonderful feeling in the world.”
She smiles softly, “Sorry.”
Shaking his head, Lucas kisses her, “I think I can cope being second to our baby girl.”
When Meredith is asleep, Sienna soon drifts off too, exhausted from a very long labour.
Lucas gets his phone to go and text his mom but before he does, he takes a picture of Meri asleep in her crib.
Stepping outside Sienna’s room, he begins to type out a text. Hi Mom. It’s been a long and hard night but Meri’s finally here. Sienna was an absolute warrior throughout. She never gave up even though she wanted to, oh how she desperately wanted to. But luckily she was able to fight through it. My girls are both sleeping so I might nip to the children’s ward, Casey must be having kittens up there x
He goes back into the Sienna’s room and writes out a quick note on a note pad. Gone to Tori’s room to tell Casey in person. I won’t be long.
Kissing Sienna’s forehead, Lucas leaves her room and heads to the children’s ward and Tori’s room.
Natalia is having dinner with Victoria and Rodrigo and the twins when she gets a text. “Meredith’s finally here.”
Although she is feeling poorly, Lucy’s eyes light up and she scrambles off her chair. “Let me see.”
She looks at the photo of her cousin and smiles, “Aw. She’s so cute.”
Enrique smiles, “Does this mean you’re a grandma now too?”
Natalia nods, “Yes sweetheart. It does.”
Casey is nursing Tori when there’s a soft knock on the door, Raf gets up and is surprised to see his best friend and cousin standing there. “How’s Sienna? I assume this visit means Meredith’s here?”
Lucas nods, “They’re asleep. Just thought you’d want to know ASAP. God knows Sienna did three weeks ago.”
Casey smiles, “Congratulations. How is she? Physically I mean, she’ll be exhausted. It’s been, what? Seventeen hours? But emotionally?”
Lucas sighs softly, “She had a cry as she felt guilty for worrying she couldn’t love Meredith but I’m assuming her hormones will be going haywire as well.”
Casey nods, “Yes. They will be. Mine still haven’t settled yet.”
She looks down at Tori, “I’ll come up tomorrow to see Sienna, but I don’t want to take Tori as she’s still not well. And we might wait a week or so to bring the twins as well.”
Raf nods, “Never thought I’d see this day to be honest.”
Lucas laughs, “Neither did I. But I’m glad things worked out the way they have.”
He takes his phone out and hands it to Casey, “She’s gorgeous,” she gasps, tears springing to her eyes.
Casey shakes her head, “Sorry, I’m just exhausted and the fact it’s getting to the stage where Tori’s not classed as a newborn anymore is getting to me. She’s growing way too fast.”
Lucas smiles at Casey, “Don’t apologise. It must be difficult for you, especially with her being your last.”
Casey nods, “Exactly.”
She shakes her head, “I try not to think about that.”
Catching Raf looking at her, Casey smiles, “Don’t worry, even if we had the room it would be too difficult. And that’s not forgetting how ill I was during my pregnancies. I don’t think my body would cope.”
She looks wistfully at Tori, “No, she’s definitely our last.”
After saying goodbye to his best friends, Lucas heads back to Sienna and their daughter.
Later that evening when Sienna has had a shower and changed into some nursing pyjamas, she cradles Meri as she attempts to get her to breastfeed. “I think it may take her a couple of days to get a hang of it.”
It takes ten minutes for Sienna to get her daughter to latch on and it wasn’t the most painless of expriences.
Lucas smiles, “You’ll both get a hang of it. It’ll just take some time.”
His phone vibrates with a text. She’s perfect. I’ll be in tomorrow to see you and Sienna and get some cuddles. Enjoy those first snuggles. X
Sienna smiles, “Nat?”
Lucas nods, “Yep. She wants to come in tomorrow. Would you be ok with that?”
Sienna shakes her head, “Can you ask her to wait? I’m exhausted and when Meri isn’t feeding or having cuddles I’d like to just be able to sleep.”
Lucas nods, seeing how exhausted his wife is. “Of course that’s ok. You need to rest, you’ve been through an awful lot.”
Can you please wait a while Mom? Sienna’s exhausted and needs rest. And we want a bit of time alone with Meri before vistors.
He leaves out that Casey will be popping by to see Sienna. “Casey does want to pop in though.”
Sienna nods, “Casey’s one thing. She knows what it’s like. And I feel like I need her right now.”
The next day, Casey leaves Tori with Raf and heads to the post natal ward.
She finds out what number Sienna’s room is and knocks on the door.
Walking in after she hears her best friend’s soft voice, she gasps, “Oh Sienna, she’s perfect.”
Although she had seen a photo, seeing Meredith in the flesh takes Casey’s breath away. “Hello sweetie. I’m your Auntie Casey.”
Sienna smiles, “Would you like a cuddle?”
Casey nods, “Yes.”
She goes and washes her hands and uses some antibactireal wash before gently taking Meri into her arms.
Sitting down beside Sienna’s bed, Casey smiles, “She’s so small.”
Sienna nods, “She was six pounds eight ounces.”
Casey smiles, “So tiny. I can’t believe Lucy was that size once. Now she barely ever stops moving.”
As her niece blinks up at her, Casey feels her breathing halt, “You and Tori are going to get up to so much mischief and fun when you’re older, hmm?”
Sienna smiles, watching her best friend with her daughter, “I can’t wait to watch them grow up together.”
Casey nods, smiling, “Me neither. Lucy is going to adore her.”
Sienna bites her lip, “She’ll have to wait a while.”
Casey looks at Sienna, “Of course. I wouldn’t allow her near Meredith when she’s ill. It’ll be difficult to keep her away from her sister, and believe me I’m going to try, but no until I’m absolutely sure she’s better she won’t be getting cuddles.”
Sienna nods, “Thanks Casey. I knew you’d be just as protective as I am.”
After a short cuddle, Casey can tell Sienna getting tired, “I’ll leave you to get some sleep.”
She places her niece back into her crib and goes over to give Sienna a hug. “You know how proud I am of you, don’t you? I know how hard this must have been for you.”
Sienna sniffs into Casey’s hair, “You went through it too.”
Casey shakes her head but Sienna nods, “You did Casey. Your period was three weeks late once. You only didn’t take a test because you’d been disappointed so many times before.”
Although she didn’t like to voice the fact that it felt like losing a child when her period finally arrived, Casey did feel like she had suffered a loss.
After saying goodbye to Sienna again, Casey goes back to Tori’s room.
Feeling renewed excitement for the life she now share with her best friend as they watch their daughters grow up side by side, Casey smiles as she goes back to her family.
Raf notices Casey’s smile as she closes the door as he is changing Tori’s diaper. “What’s that smile for?”
Casey smiles, before wrinkling her nose at the sight of what Raf is dealing with in their daughter’s diaper. “Well at least we know she’s not constipated from the antibiotics.”
Raf shakes his head, “Far from it. How was your first cuddle?”
Casey smiles, “Oh Raf, she’s so tiny. I mean she looks tiny in the photo, but she’s even smaller when you have her in your arms.”
When Tori is changed, Casey gently lifts her into her arms. “My beautiful girl.”
Snuggled with her daughter, Casey feels a wave of calm wash over her. “I was thinking we could go and get Lucy and Enrique something new to read? Before we take Tori home?”
Raf nods, “That’s a good idea.”
As if she knows she is back in Casey’s arms, Tori yawns and slowly her eyes begin to close.
When Tori is asleep, Casey cradles her for a few more minutes before settling her into her hospital crib.
Casey wipes tears away, “I just want to get her home now. She looks so small in this big crib.”
Raf smiles and wraps Casey in his arms, “Just another two days then hopefully the blood tests will be clear and we can take her home.”
He wipes Casey’s tears away, “It was just unlucky. It looks worse than it is because she’s so small.”
Late that evening Casey settles Tori into her crib after changing her diaper and her sleepsuit after her diaper leaked. “I’m exhausted so I don’t know how Sienna must be feeling.”
Raf nods, “She’ll be in pain for a while but I’m sure it’s all worth it.”
Sienna changes Meri’s diaper after her feed whilst Luc has a shower, thankfully since she has changed countless diapers for her nieces and nephew she knows what she’s doing. “I know it must feel a little uncomfortable, but Mama will be finished soon.”
Lifting her carefully and preciously, Sienna carries her daughter back to her bed and sits on it. “How could I have thought I couldn’t love you?” she whispers again, gazing at her newborn daughter.
Kissing her sweetly, Sienna places Meri into her crib and then gets into bed herself, feeling completely rung out.
She is asleep by the time Lucas comes out of the shower, he checks on their daughter before searching through their clothes and reaching for a clean t shirt and boxers before grabbing his jeans and going back into the bathroom.
Five minutes later he comes back out and sits in the chair beside Sienna’s bed, soon falling asleep as well.
The next day, Sienna wakes up hearing a soft mewling cry, “I thought yesterday was a dream,’ she murmurs rubbing her eyes as she yawns.
Gently lifting his daughter, Luc smiles, “No, it was all too real. And you were amazing.”
Sienna smiles as she unbuttons her nursing pyjamas, “Casey had told me about something called mixed feeding. Basically I’ll express and you can give her a bottle.”
Nodding as he places their baby girl in Sienna’s arms, Luc smiles, “We can give it a try if you’d like? It does sound easier on you.”
A soft knock on the door causes them both to look up as Isla walks in. “Morning. I just wanted to check and see how you’re both doing.”
Sienna smiles as she concentrates on latching Meredith on to her breast, “Completely exhausted but overwhelmingly happy.”
Isla smiles, “If everything is good I think we can discharge you at lunch time.”
Sienna smiles, “That sounds great. I just want to get her home.”
Isla nods, “We would have kept you in longer if you’d needed a c section but since you managed to have a vaginal birth I don’t see why you can’t go home as long as all of Meredith’s tests are fine.”
Sienna smiles as she gazes at her baby daughter, “Hear that Little Dolphin? You could be going home.”
Isla shakes her head good naturedly, at this point in their careers it’s almost knowledge of the entire hospital that Sienna and Casey’s friends’ nickname is ‘the dolphins’
Sienna looks up at Isla, “You still have Casey as a patient, right?”
Isla shakes her head, “Not officially, but she has my number if she has any concerns. Which you are welcome to do as well.”
Sienna frowns, “But Tori’s not six weeks old yet. Who will do Casey’s six week check up?”
Isla does any checks on Meredith she can as she feeds, “Her local GP will do that. Or perhaps she will come here to the clinic.”
As Casey gets out of the shower, she hears the door to Tori’s room open and Harper Emery’s voice as she speaks to Raf.
Wrapping herself in a towel, Casey opens the bathroom door. “Morning Casey. How are you? It’s difficult to forget you’re still in the postpartum days after Tori’s birth.”
Casey sighs, “It’s difficult to lie down and recover when you have three kids under the age of six. Especially when two are ill.”
Harper frowns, “Try to rest as much as possible. You are still recovering. Your parents are here to look after you, aren’t they?”
Casey shakes her head, “No. Not anymore. My Dad had to go back for work. But I’m lucky that my in laws are on hand if we need help.”
Harper nods, “As long as you have someone to look after you.”
She looks at Raf almost apologetically, “I’m sorry we have had to ask you to come back earlier than planned but we are struggling to give the patients the care they should come to expect.”
Raf nods, “Don’t worry. I understand.”
Casey goes back to get dressed and then as she comes out of the bathroom, Tori’s piercing screams can be heard as Harper takes some blood even though she had put EMLA cream on.
Harper gently tries to soothe her, “I’m sorry little one. That was nasty, wasn’t it?”
Casey comes out, “Aurora’s adamant she is never having babies so sadly you won’t be a great aunt any time soon.”
Harper smiles, “Oh I know. She’s too career minded. Much like myself than her mother. Maybe that’s a bad thing. She’s wonderful with your three.”
Casey nods, “That may be because she can hand them back.”
Harper takes the vials of blood, “These results should be ready either by lunch time or midafternoon. Latest by three o’clock.”
Casey nods, “Thank you.”
Tori whimpers but these whimpers are of hunger, not pain. “I know a hungry cry when I hear it,” Casey smiles, gently lifting Tori into her arms and cradling her close.
Opening her nursing t shirt, Casey latches Tori on to her breast, “good girl.”
Raf kisses the top of Casey’s head, still wet from the shower and her hair wash, “I’ll go and text Mama with an update and ask how Lucy is.”
Casey nods, “Ok.”
She smiles, “Thank you for staying. I don’t think I could have coped alone.”
Raf shakes his head, “Of course I stayed Casey. I needed to know Tori would be ok too.”
Casey nods, “I know but you could have told Ethan it was ok and gone back to work and popped in in your lunch breaks.”
Raf shakes his head again, “There’s no way I could have done that.”
He smiles at her and their baby daughter before heading out to text his mom.
Hi Mama. Almost good news. If Tori’s blood tests and her chest are clear she will be allowed home today. Is Lucy any better?
Casey is nursing Tori when her phone vibrates with a text from Sienna. We are going home.
She posts a photo of Meredith in her ‘going home’ outfit. A white onesie with pink dots.
Casey smiles. So are we – hopefully, if Tori’s bloods and chest are clear.
Tori nurses for almost a full hour before she fights Casey’s breast, “I think you are getting better Bunny, you’re already eating more.”
There’s a knock on the door half an hour later as Casey and Raf sit and wait for Tori’s blood test results as she naps.
Sienna opens the door with her free hand as she has Meri in a sling. “I’d have thought you’d need a wheelchair after last night,” Casey remarks.
Sienna nods and its only then Casey notices that Lucas is wheeling a wheelchair. “Ah sorry, didn’t notice it.”
Raf walks over to get a closer look at his sleeping niece. “She’s beautiful Sienna. You done really well.”
He kisses her cheek.
Sienna smiles, “Thanks Raf. I still can’t believe how perfect she is.”
Casey nods, “That usually wears off after a week of two hourly feeds,” she jokes.
She shakes her head, “No. Honestly, I still have that ‘oh my god, she’s perfect’ thoughts going through my head any time I look at Tori.”
Casey smiles, “We’ll bring the twins to visit when we know Lucy is well enough. It wouldn’t be fair to take Enrique without her, especially given that Lucy has been the one who has been so excited for her cousin.”
Sienna nods, “That sounds perfect.”
Harper enters the room, “Don’t mind me.”
She stops, “Oh Sienna, she’s perfect.”
Turning to Casey and Raf, she smiles, “The blood test is clear. So now if Tori’s chest is clear I’m happy to discharge her.”
Taking her stethoscope out of her pocket, Harper puts it on and gently opens Tori’s onesie to listen to her chest, laughing softly as she hears a little displeased squeal come from the baby. “Oh I’m sorry, was that cold?”
After a few minutes she takes it away and smiles, “A little residule crackling but nothing that I’m concerned about. She’s free to go home.”
Sienna beams, “Babies’ first play date in a week?”
Casey laughs, “If you feel up to it then consider it in the diary.”
Soon Sienna is being wheeled out of the elevator and she is shocked to see her ex room mates and best friends waiting for her, as well as Kyra and Bryce.
Kyra gasps as she looks down at the tiny infant cradled against Sienna’s chest, “She’s so small.”
Sienna nods, “I know but I promise you it didn’t feel like that twenty hours ago.”
Bryce going bright red makes Sienna crease up, “Oops. Sorry. But at least I didn’t go into graphic detail of what it DID feel like.”
Kyra winks at Sienna, “Watermelon and lemon type situation?”
Sienna nods emphatically, “Most definitely.”
Elijiah smiles as he wheels himself over to get a better look at Meredith, “Why do I have a feeling Meredith and Tori are going to cause a whole heap of mischief in the years to come?”
Sienna smiles, “Well if they’re anything like their daddies the world is in trouble.”
Elijah shakes his head, “Oh I don’t know. I seem to remember their Mamas getting up to a lot of their own mischief.”
He reaches out to take Sienna’s hand and kisses it, “Congratulations. I will say that’s a lot to go through in less than a week. Marriage and a baby. Too much if you ask me.”
Lucas smiles at his girls, “Don’t be so sure Elijiah. It’s nowhere near as bad as you think.”
Jackie rolls her eyes but Sienna can see she’s smiling, “Says the man who’s had the title of ‘dad’ for less than a day.”
She smiles at Sienna, “I am happy for you. I saw you looking over at Casey when the twins were tiny with a longing in your eyes.”
Sienna doesn’t even deny it, “Yes I know. Now I think it’s best if I get home. It’ll be time for Meri’s feed soon.”
Wheeling Sienna out of the hospital, Lucas beams happily, “Today really starts our forever,” he whispers as he helps Sienna out of the wheelchair and into the car before placing Meredith into the car in her car seat.
A week after her bachellorette tea party, Sienna wakes up on her wedding day, having spent the night at Casey’s.
Waking up at six o’clock with butterflies and a full bladder, Sienna gets out of the guest bedroom.
She goes into the downstairs en suite bathroom, wrapping her dressing gown around her large bump.
Closing the bathroom door, she waddles to the toilet and lifts up her dressing gown before pulling down her pants, holding up her nightie, she sits down to pee.
A smile lights up her tired face as Meredith kicks happily, “Good morning my little Dolphin. Are you hungry?”
After using the toilet, she wipes herself and heaves herself up off the toilet and pulls up her pants before flushing the toilet and going to wash her hands.
In her bedroom, Casey rolls over and feeling the bed empty beside her, wakes up in alarm as she sees it’s only six o’clock.
She then remembers Raf spent the night at Lucas and Sienna’s and her heart rate returns to normal.
Getting out of bed, she walks into the en suite bathroom after checking Tori is still asleep in her Moses basket.
Her three week old daughter is sound asleep which gives Casey time to shower and then go downstairs to start making breakfast for her and Sienna.
Aurora and Jackie are arriving at nine o’clock so that they can all get ready together.
Getting out of the shower ten minutes later, Casey wraps her hair in her towel and her bigger towel around her bust.
Putting on her usual dressing gown, she goes downstairs and into the kitchen where Sienna is already waiting. “Morning Ms Bride To Be. How are the nerves?”
She kisses her best friend’s cheek and goes to get a glass of orange juice for them both.
Sienna smiles, “I’m so excited but for the life of me don’t understand why we waited until I was this close to giving birth. I’m running the risk of giving birth half way up the aisle,” she huffs.
Casey smiles, “Hopefully not. Do you need to read through your vows?”
Sienna shakes her head, “No. I’d rather not sob the whole day.”
Casey nods, “Do you feel up to having some breakfast?”
Sienna nods, “I’m absolutely starving.”
Soon Casey has some bagels in the toaster and french toast sticks in the oven, just as Aurora and Jackie arrive.
At the same time Casey hears Tori wake for her milk, “Sorry girls’, I need to go and get Tori.”
Walking upstairs and into Tori’s nursery, Casey walks over to her daughter’s crib. “Morning my precious girl. Are you excited for Auntie Sienna’s wedding?”
Gently scooping Tori into her arms, Casey loosens her dressing gown and sits down in her nursing chair.
Carefully latching Tori on to her breast, Casey remembers how excited she was the day of her own wedding day.
As if her life was always supposed to be going in this direction.
That Raf was her forever before she even knew he existed.
Now eight years down the line with their three children, she is more sure of that than ever.
Jackie comes upstairs to use the bathroom and knocks gently on the door as Casey finishes nursing Tori and begins to wind her. “How are you doing? Isn’t this Tori’s first big appearance since she was born?”
Casey nods, “Yes. I feel a little guilty as Sienna should be the centre of attention but it’s inevitable that Tori will be fussed over quite a lot.”
Jackie smiles, “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure Sienna is happy that her sweet niece is going to be at her wedding.”
Sienna waddles into the nursery, “Yes, Jackie’s right Casey, I love Tori dearly and I am delighted she is here and has completed your family.”
Jackie frowns, “Where is Lucy? Will she be coming with us?”
Casey nods, “Yes. Victoria is dropping her off to get ready with us and she’ll be coming with me and Sienna.”
Jackie nods, “Ok.”
After Casey settles Tori, the girls go downstairs for breakfast before Elena arrives to do everyone’s make up and Hanh and Kahn arrive to see Sienna in her wedding dress.
As the girls sit around the dining table munching on bagels and cream cheese and French Toast and maple syrup with orange juice and non alcoholic mimosas, Sienna’s excitement begins to build.
Casey sees her friend jiggle in her chair, “Need to pee again?” ]
Sienna giggles, “no. Just excited now.”
Casey’s phone vibrates and she opens it and smiles. Morning sweetheart. I hope Tori didn’t keep you up too much last night. I’ll see you at the church. I love you xx
Jackie dips her French toast stick in maple syrup and smiles, “Hubby checking up on you?”
Casey nods and eats a bite of her bagel that she had cut off the actual bagel itself. “Mmhmm. But he always sends me a text first thing in the morning when we spend the night apart. Always has done since the earliest days of our relationship.”
Sienna smiles, “I think it’s beautiful.”
Enjoying her French toast, she smiles, “this is delicious. I have to have this again.”
Casey smiles, “I’ll give you the recipe link.”
She picks up her phone. Just her normal, I missed you and won’t lie, I panicked when you weren’t beside me when I woke up. I love you too xx.
After the girls have finished breakfast, Sienna goes to have a shower whilst Casey puts the dishes into the dishwasher and texts Victoria to see what time she is bringing Lucy as they need to leave to head to the church by eleven o’clock at the latest as the ceremony is at half past twelve.
Over at Juliana’s, Victoria is making breakfast for Lucy, “I’m going to get to wear my Princess dress today,” her excited granddaughter burbles as she spins around, her nightie twirling at her legs.
Victoria laughs, “Settle down tereso or you’ll spill your juice.”
Lucy sits down at the table, “Was it like this when Mama and Daddy got married?” she asks, eating her strawberry and chocolate crepes.
Victoria smiles, “Yes, a lot like this. It was very exciting.”
Lucy thinks, “I wish I could have been there.”
Victoria laughs softly, “You were, in a way. You and Enrique were still in Mama’s tummy.”
Lucy smiles, “Like Meredith?”
Victoria nods, “Yes. Just like Meredith. She will get to know stories about her Mama and Daddy’s wedding too some day.”
Hearing her phone buzz with a text, Victoria picks it up. Hi Victoria, it’s Casey. What time are you bringing Lucy over? We have to be at the church by eleven thirty.
Lucy looks up, “What’s wrong ‘Lita?”
Victoria smiles, “Nothing quierda, Mama is just checking in and asking when I will be taking you home to get ready.”
Soon it’s time for Lucy to get dressed in her everyday clothes before Victoria gets her into the car.
At Lucas and Sienna’s house, Lucas and Raf and Tommy are busy finishing up having breakfast after a shower.
The three of them stayed at the house the previous night, in Tommy’s case more for convience.
Finishing his coffee, Tommy smirks at Lucas, “Ready for the ball and chain?”
Raf coughs and raises his eyebrow, “Hey!”
Tommy holds his hands up, “I’m just teasing. Although to be fair I am glad I have no attraction to the so called fairer sex as they seem to cause havoc.”
He smirks at his friends, “You don’t know if Casey’s boss swings both ways do you? Because if so sign me up.”
Raf splutters, “Absolutely not. He’s one hundred per cent straight I’m afraid.”
Half an hour later as Raf helps Lucas with his suit, there’s a knock on the door as Juliana arrives with Enrique.
Tommy gets up off the bed, “I’ll get it. It’s likely Juliana.”
He runs downstairs buttoning his shirt as he goes and opens the door to Raf’s grandmother and young son. “Hey buddy. Daddy’s upstairs. I’ll take you up and we can help get you ready.”
Tommy turns to Juliana, “Morning Juliana, are you doing well?”
Juliana smiles, “Yes. I’m fine. Just feeling a little tearful with memories. I’m on my way to see the girls. Toria is dropping off Lucy so Casey can get her dressed. Tell Rafa I’ll see him at the church.”
Tommy nods, “Of course. We’ll see you later.”
Heading back upstairs, he takes Enrique into the bedroom where Raf is busy getting his son’s suit out of the wardrobe.
Enrique beams and runs into his father’s arms, “I missed you Daddy.”
Raf smiles, “I missed you too. Did you have a nice time at Bisabuela’s last night?”
Enrique nods, “yeah. We got to stay up until nine.”
He giggles at that as the latest time Casey and Raf allow the twins to stay up is eight thirty.
Soon Enrique is dressed in his suit and sits on the bed.
Back at Casey and Raf’s, Casey has dressed Tori in her cute flower girl dress, and has placed her down for a nap after she has been fed.
She then uses the toilet before Jackie helps Casey into her matron of honour dress, “You look beautiful Casey,” she smiles as she smooths down the skirt of the dress.
Sienna nods, “You really do.”
Casey begins to get started on helping Sienna into her wedding dress, “What about Tori? She will need you,” Sienna protests.
Smiling, Casey helps Sienna into her sleeves of her dress before she begins to do up the tiny red pearl buttons. “She’s sound asleep, Si. Don’t you worry.”
Whilst Casey helps Sienna, Victoria helps Lucy into her mini bridesmaid dress, “You look so pretty mi amor. I think we should send a picture to show Daddy.”
Lucy twirls and poses as Victoria takes her photo.
Casey comes into the room, “My beautiful girl.”
Her eyes fill with tears, “You look so pretty.”
Lucy frowns, “Don’t cry Mama.”
She wraps her arms around Casey’s waist, “I don’t want you to be sad.”
Casey kisses the top of Lucy’s head, “I’m not sad baby, just emotional at the beautiful big girl you are becoming.”
There’s a knock on the door as Sienna’s mother and grandmother arrives.
Jackie smiles, “I’ll get it.”
She rushes downstairs as fast as she can in her bridesmaid dress, “Hello Khanh. Hello Hanh.”
Hanh smiles, “Hello Jacqueline. Is Sienna upstairs?”
Jackie nods, ‘Yes, she is in Casey’s marital bedroom with Casey and Lucy. And please, call me Jackie. I hate Jacqueline.”
Hanh nods before heading upstairs.
Casey is curling Sienna’s hair as her mother arrives, “Oh my darling. My beautiful girl.”
Sienna turns hearing her mother’s voice, “Hello Mother.”
Khanh gasps and sobs, “My Tinh yeu. My little love. You look stunning.”
Casey smiles, “Good thing we’re all doctors or God only knows how things might end when Luc sees you. Likely with him on the floor.”
Sienna squawks with alarm, “Casey! Don’t say that.”
Casey winks, “Just getting you back for what you said at my wedding.”
Hanh smiles at Casey, “You also look very beautiful Casey.”
She bends down to Lucy’s height. “And you must be Lucy. Aren’t you a very pretty Princess.”
Lucy hides behind Victoria’s legs, “It’s alright Sunshine. Auntie Sienna’s Mama is someone who you can talk to,’ Casey soothes.
Tori wakes up and cries from her Moses basket, “I’m sorry, can someone take over doing Sienna’s hair?”
There’s another knock at the door as Elena arrives to do the girls’ make up.
Victoria goes downstairs to answer the door, “Hello Elena. Casey and Sienna and the others are upstairs. Casey will have to be last to have her make up put on as she is feeding the baby.”
Elena smiles, “That’s fine Mrs Aveiro.”
Following Victoria upstairs with her make up bag, Elena heads into Casey’s room and smiles as she sees Sienna in her dress, “You look very pretty Sienna.”
Casey comes into the bedroom with Tori already nursing at her breast, “Hello Elena. How are you?”
Elena smiles, “I am well Casey. I remember being here for your wedding day, so long ago.”
Casey smiles, “Five years this year, yes.”
Once Tori has been nursed, her grandmother takes her to change her diaper and place her down for a nap whilst Casey gets her make up done.
She has gone for a very pale pink palette with a nude lip.
Sienna has decided on a dramatic palette of red and nude as well as dark eyeshadow.
Casey’s phone vibrates again as a picture of Raf and Enrique comes through and she gasps.
Sienna looks at her friend in concern, as does Jackie and Aurora, “Are you ok?”
Casey nods, “Yes. Just admiring how handsome my boys are.”
She shows Sienna the photo. “Wow I knew Raf cleaned up well but my word Enrique looks so grown up.”
My handsome boys. I’m so lucky. I love you both so much. I’ll meet you at the church with Lulu and Tori. X
Soon everyone is ready and getting ready to get into the wedding cars.
Jackie agrees to take Lucy so that Casey only has to look after Tori.
Casey bends down at the door, “Aunt Jackie is going to take you and you’ll meet Mama at the church then you can get your flowers.”
Lucy nods, “ok Mama.”
As they pile into the cars, Sienna winces as she feels a cramp in her lower abdomen. “Are you ok Sienna?”
Sienna nods, breathing through the pain. “I think so. She’s just sitting in a strange position.”
Casey helps Sienna into the car before getting in at the other side and placing Tori’s car seat in between them.
Raf and Lucas are waiting for the cars and Lucas is beginning to get nervous, “What if I’m not good enough for her? What if I’m not good enough for both of them? I couldn’t keep Brianna safe.”
He pads around fretting as Raf tries to calm his best friend. “You are good enough for them. And you are not to blame for Brianna’s loss. Miscarriages are upsetting and tragic, but they happen in more cases than you think.”
Soon after Raf has calmed Lucas down, both with words and a glass of whiskey, despite it being before eleven in the morning, they get into the car.
They arrive at the church and meet the officiant, “Everyone has some nerves, but I promise everything will be fine. Just remember the reason you asked your fiancee to marry you in the first place.”
Sienna and Casey ( and baby Tori, ) arrive at the church and once they get into the church, Casey places Tori’s car seat in a room off the side of the main room.
Casey squeezes Sienna’s hand, “You will be ok Sienna. I promise.”
Sienna’s father, Bao, smiles at his daughter, “My beautiful girl.”
Taking her father’s arm, Sienna tries to quell her jiggling nerves. “Ready?” Bao asks.
Sienna nods, and they smile as the music starts and Casey, goes in carrying Tori in her arms, in leu of flowers like most matrons of honour.
Lucy also follows her mother carrying her little flower basket.
Casey carries Tori down the aisle, the tiny baby, thankfully, settled and content to look around the church as she is carried down the aisle.
Soon Casey sits down with Tori in her arms, Raf looks over at them and smiles.
Smiling back, Casey takes Tori’s arm and waves her hand towards her Daddy.
As Lucy comes to sit beside Victoria, who is behind Casey, Casey smiles, “My clever girl.”
The music changes there is a hush that comes over the church as Sienna enters the room and is escorted down the aisle on the arm of her father.
She stops by Lucas’s side and takes his hands.
The officiant smiles, Today we’re here to celebrate the union in marriage of Sienna and and Lucas. Today they will pledge to be each other’s comfort and protection for the rest of their lives. As I’ve been informed they have written their own vows.”
She turns to Sienna, “Sienna you may make your vows to Lucas.”
Sienna smiles “Sienna – “I, Sienna take you Lucas, to be my husband, to share the good times and bad, side by side. I humbly give you my hand and my heart as I pledge my faith and my love for you. Just as this ring is a circle without end, my love for you is eternal.. You know me better than anyone in this world and somehow you still manage to love me. You are my best friend and one true love.
With this ring, I thee wed.”
The officiant smiles, “That was beautiful Sienna.”
She turns to Lucas, “Lucas you may make your vows to Sienna.”
Lucas nods, “Sienna, on this day, I give you my heart. My promise, that I will walk with you, hand in hand, wherever our journey leads us, Living, learning, loving. Together. Forver.
I look forward to whatever the future brings us, not just with you but our daughter and the family we will continue to build together. With this ring, I thee wed.”
The officiant smiles as Lucas and Sienna finish their vows, “That was beautiful. You may exchange rings.”
As Lucas and Sienna exchange rings, Tori who is cradled in Victoria’s arms in the crowd, let’s out a loud cry, which makes everyone laugh.
The offiiciant smiles, “You don’t happen to be the little one’s favourite uncle do you? She doesn’t seem happy that you’re married,” she jokes.
Lucas laughs, “I’ll make it up to her in teddies.”
Everyone laughs, including Casey, who looks over at her mother in law but Victoria smiles signalling that she has it under control and discreetly leaves the room to change Tori’s diaper.
After Sienna and Lucas exchange rings and seal their vows with a kiss, everyone watches as they walk down the aisle, very slowly as Sienna is almost full term in her pregnancy.
Casey and Raf follow them but stop to wait for Victoria to bring their daughter out of the ladies toilets after changing her diaper.
Casey smiles, “That was beautiful, wasn’t it?”
Raf nods, “Yes, it was. It reminded me of our wedding day in a way,”
Casey smiles and wraps her arm around Raf’s and kisses his cheek, “Me too. It was magical, wasn’t it?”
Soon everyone is at the reception and it’s time for Sienna and Lucas’s first dance.
As Sienna is heavily pregnant they had chosen a slow song, I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden.
As the music starts, Casey sits with Raf as she cradles their daughter, and smiles, “I loved this song when I was in my teens,” she whispers.
Kissing the top of Tori’s head, Casey cradles her close, “I think our Bunny did a wonderful job as Flower Baby, don’t you?”
Raf kisses Tori’s cheek, “The best.”
When the song ends, Lucas softly kisses Sienna and bends down to kiss her swollen abdomen.
They walk off the dance floor and head towards the table, Sienna was adamant that Casey and Raf and the children were to sit at the top table with her and Lucas and their parents’.
Casey smiles as Sienna sits beside her, “My feet are killing me,” she groans.
Despite having flat ballet pumps on, albeit fancy ones, Sienna’s feet are still aching due to her heavily pregnant state.
Sienna smiles as she sticks her tongue out at Tori, “And weren’t you the cutest Flower Baby in the world?” she coos.
Casey smiles, “We were just discussing that very subject.”
She smiles at Lucas, “you’d do better to remember to look after my sister. Or I’ll come after you and your danglers.”
Lucas laughs, “Don’t worry Casey, I intend to.”
He kisses Sienna again, “I’ll protect you and our daughter until my last moment on earth.”
Sienna leans in and Lucas wraps his arms around her. “I know you will.”
A few moments later once he knows his daughter has finished her conversation, Bao walks over to the table. “My darling girl. Are you ready for our dance?”
Sienna takes her father’s offered hand, “Yes Daddy.”
She lets him lead her on to the dance floor and wrap his arm around her bump, placing his hand on her hip as she places her hand on his shoulder.
Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion, begins to play and Bao gently leads Sienna through some slow steps as the song plays.
Casey’s eyes fill with tears as she looks down at Tori and over at Lucy who is sitting on Natalia’s lap, thinking of how it will be their wedding days in the blink of an eye.
Raf notices his wife’s tears, “What’s the matter sweetheart?”
Casey sniffs and hands Tori to Raf before looking in her clutch bag to find tissues, “I’m just thinking of how it won’t be long until that’s you with our girls’. And I am not ready for that at all.”
Raf laughs softly, “We have time to wait for that.”
As the song ends, Bao brings Sienna back to her seat.
Casey smiles as she wipes her eyes, “That was beautiful Sienna.”
After a few moments Lucas smiles at Casey, “Are you ok for a dance?”
Casey nods and she stands up, “Give me a second until I hand this little one over to her ‘Lita and I’m all yours.”
When she has handed Tori over to Victoria, Casey let’s Lucas take her hand and leads her onto the dance floor as Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol comes on.
Raf smiles at Sienna, “You don’t have to if you don’t feel up to it.”
Sienna shakes her head, “No, I’m fine right now. And besides, I want to see what Casey keeps going on about,” she jokes.
Taking Sienna by the hand, Raf leads her on to the dance floor and gently twirls her around.
As the song comes to an end, Sienna finds Casey and smiles, “You are right. He is a good dancer,” she whispers, referring to Raf.
Casey giggles, “Oh. I know.”
When they are sitting at the table just before dinner, Casey sips at a glass of champagne, having decided to allow herself one drink before dinner and one with dinner before switching to soft drinks for the rest of the night.
She had also pumped milk for Tori so she has bottles when she is hungry if Casey decides against nursing as a precaution.
Sienna walks over to where Aurora is sitting with her aunt Harper and Ethan, although she didn’t say anything, she is sure Ethan and Harper didn’t come as each others’ dates platonically.
Ethan smiles at Sienna, “Congratulations Sienna. You look radiant.”
Sienna smiles as Aurora offers her close friend her seat, “Thanks Ethan. I certainly don’t feel it. I will be very glad when this pregnancy is over.”
Sliding into the seat that Aurora offered up, Sienna groans as her back aches painfully. “I always wanted a big family, but I’m not sure if I can go through pregnancy again.”
Sienna’s fingers go to her neck as she clutches the locket Lucas bought for her to remember Brianna.
Lucas soon comes over to find his bride, “Ah there you are. Mom’s having kittens wondering where you’d got to. Worrying you were stuck in the ladies in labour.”
Sienna playfully swipes her new husband’s shoulder. “God, do not even joke about that. Casey had that exact dream when she was pregnant with Tori.”
Aurora shudders, “I remember Casey telling me about that. How horrific. Luckily she managed to get to the hospital.”
After a little while, Sienna waddles over to where Casey and Raf and Juliana were sitting with the children. “We’re so grateful you were well enough to come Juliana. It would have been strange without you.”
Juliana smiles and takes Sienna’s hand, “I was honoured to be invited dear.”
Lucas looks at her aghast, “You are my aunt – well near enough. Of course we’d want you here.”
A little while later it’s time for dinner and it’s a mix of Vietnamese and American cuisine.
The starters are a Vietnamese dish of chicken rolls which consist of chicken and carrot wrapped in rice paper with a dip on the side.
Casey picks up her first roll and dips it into the sauce, she notices Enrique is looking at his plate curiously, “Just bite into it Kiko. It’s just chicken and carrots.”
Enrique bites into the rolls and his face breaks into a wide smile. “This is yummy.”
Lucy has no such misgivings for the dish and is eagerly tucking in. “This is so yummy Mama. Can we have them at home too?”
Casey and Raf share a look and a smile, “I don’t see why not. We can get Auntie Sienna to give us the recipe.”
After the starter the main course is American.
Grilled salmon and vegetables.
Casey smiles as Raf feeds her a bite from his fork, “Mm. This tastes really good.”
She watches as Lucas does the same with Sienna, “I am so happy for Sienna. She has always deserved to be loved and looked after. I knew right away Wayne wasn’t the one who deserved her. I did think maybe Danny was, but then…”
Casey stops talking, “Sorry.”
Raf wraps her hand in both of his, putting his fork down. “You have nothing to apologise for mi amor. I think everyone thought that for a while. A lot of people saw the spark between them.”
After the main course, Sienna turns to Casey, “Did you enjoy the food?”
Casey nods, “That salmon was the most tender I’ve ever tasted. It melted on my tongue.”
Sienna nods, “I know.”
She smiles at her niece and nephew, “Did you enjoy your dinner Lucy?”
Lucy nods, “Yes Auntie Sienna. You are very pretty today.”
Enrique wipes his mouth with his napkin as he had been taught, “This is delicious. Will we have a dessert too?”
Sienna laughs, “Oh yes. It can’t be a wedding without dessert.”
After dessert, there’s more dancing, Casey is coming back from the bathroom when Sienna smiles at her and pulls her hand, “Dance with me? Please?”
Casey laughs, “Oh, ok. Go on then.”
Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler begins to play.
As Sienna and Casey walk on to the dance floor, Kyra wanders over to where Raf is sitting with Tori on his lap. “Aren’t you just the most precious baby?” she coos, sitting down and stroking Tori’s tiny fingers.
She smiles, “I can take her for a bit if you’d like?”
Bryce, who is wandering over with a two glasses of champagne, hands one to Kyra and laughs, “You just want cuddles.”
Kyra doesn’t even try to deny it. “Wouldn’t you? Look at that little face.”
Raf smiles and gently passes Tori over to Kyra, “Here you go. I know you’ve spent three weeks in desperation.”
Kyra rolls her eyes, knowing that’s the story Casey has given her husband, “Maybe…”
Snuggling Tori close, Kyra smiles, “I’m sure you’re happy to have Auntie Kyra’s cuddles, hmm?”
Tori just blinks up at Kyra, sucking on her pacifier as she nestles in to her shoulder.
Kyra looks out as Casey gently spins Sienna as both of her friends laugh, “I knew Sienna would get Casey up at some point. She always has been the one who did. The karyoke nights were a nightmare.”
She laughs, “Still love her though.”
Jackie comes over to see Kyra and smiles, “I’m surprised she hasn’t fallen asleep on you already.”
Kyra smiles as Tori’s eyes begin to flutter, “She can fall asleep on me all she likes. I might just run off and keep her.”
Jackie shakes her head, smiling, “Casey would hunt you down and kill you.”
Sienna and Casey walk slowly off the dance floor as the song comes to an end.
Casey takes Sienna over to where Lucas is sitting with Natalia and Juliana before she goes over to see if Tori is hungry.
Kyra smiles, “You really do make the most adorable babies. I could just eat her up.”
Placing a soft kiss on Tori’s forehead, she gazes down at her.
Casey smiles at Raf before sitting down beside him, just as Lucy comes over and tugs at Jackie’s hand. “Dance with me Aunt Jackie? Please??”
Jackie smiles, “Alright then little one. Come on then.”
Allowing her niece to take her hand, she stands up and lifts Lucy into her arms.
Kyra smiles as she watches Jackie twirl with Lucy in her arms, “Ethan’s not the only one who’s been softened by your kids.”
Casey laughs, “No, he isn’t. It’s amazing the effect the kids have had on Jackie. She’s so good with them.”
She smiles wistfully, “If she could just meet the right man, she would be a great mom.”
Kyra looks at Casey as if she’s mad, “Has that glass of champagne gone to your head after nine months alcohol free?”
Casey shakes her head, “No, I genuinely believe it.”
Yawning, she looks at the watch on her right wrist and sees it’s seven o’clock.
Tori begins to whimper in Kyra’s arms, “Oh dear. Are you hungry little one?”
Casey slides down her straps of her dress and using a light shawl, covers her exposed breast as she latches Tori on to her breast, not sure if there is anywhere else she can nurse.
Kyra frowns, “I’m surprised you haven’t gone outside to feed her.”
Casey shakes her head, “Why? What’s to be embarrased about? As long as no one is staring I don’t care.”
After Tori has finished nursing forty five minutes later, Casey takes her to change her diaper and change her into her sleepsuit.
When Casey has left Victoria comes over to where Raf is sitting, “If you and Casey want a bit of time to yourselves, I can take the kids upstairs and put them to bed?”
Raf thinks, knowing it’s likely going to be their only night out for some time. “If you’re sure and Casey’s ok with it then yes, thanks Mama.”
Victoria kisses her son’s cheek, “You’re welcome.”
She goes off to congratulate her nephew and his new wife again, “Congratulations darling. I’m so happy for you both.”
Lucas smiles, “Thank you Auntie Toria. I appreciate it.”
He kisses her cheek.
Sienna smiles, “Thanks Victoria. I do too.”
She yawns, “I’m just glad everything went to plan.”
Upstairs in the suite Sienna had booked for her and Raf, Casey sits on the bed leaning her back against the headboard as she nurses Tori. “My beautiful flower girl. You were so pretty today. I don’t even think Auntie Sienna minded that you were the star of the day.”
So many people had come up to coo over Tori and say how beautiful she is.
Tori nurses for forty minutes before Casey winds her daughter and undresses her to put her into her sleepsuit.
She also changes her diaper then places her into a travel cot beside her side of the bed. “’Lita is going to look after you Tori. Mama loves you so much.”
Settling Tori in her crib, Casey hears the door open after a soft knock as Victoria comes upstairs with Lucy and Enrique to put them to bed.
Lucy runs into Casey’s arms, “Mama, can I have a cuddle?”
Casey smiles and lifts Lucy into her arms, “Of course Sunshine. You look sleepy.”
Lucy yawns, rubbing her eyes, “I am.”
Casey kisses the top of her daughter’s head, “You did so well today.”
She smiles at Enrique as he climbs up on the bed beside her and his sister. “You both did. Mama and Daddy are so proud of you.”
Kissing Enrique, Casey smiles, “It’s time to get ready for bed then ‘Lita will read you a bedtime story before you go to sleep.”
Saying goodnight to her children, Casey walks over to the side of the suite, “Thank you Victoria. It’s not often Raf and I get a night out and although we won’t be long as I am tired, it’ll still be nice for us to have some time as a couple.”
Victoria kisses her daughter in law’s cheek, “Of course querida. You need some time to yourselves as well.”
After using the toilet and changing her sanitary towel, Casey takes some painkillers for her stomach cramps and heads back down to the party.
Raf sits at the bar chatting with Tommy as he waits for Casey to come back downstairs from giving Tori her feed. “Sorry, I am never getting married, it’s too stressful,” Tommy says.
Smiling as he sips a drink, Raf laughs, “I’d tell you it’s worth it, but really that’s something you need to learn for yourself.”
Casey smiles as she walks in and her eyes search the crowd for her husband, her one and only love.
She spots him by the bar and walks over. “Good news, your mom has taken over babysitting duties. So we don’t need to worry and actually have a bit of fun.”
Raf notices a sparkle in Casey’s eyes which only means one thing, she will get him up on the dance floor.
One of the songs Casey and Raf had had on their own list for their first dance, All Of Me by John Legend comes on and Casey catches Sienna wink at her from her place beside Lucas as she nibbles on a ginger candy.
Casey smiles and holds her hand out to Raf, “Dance with me?”
Raf smiles and takes Casey’s hand, “Only for you.”
Leading Casey out onto the dance floor, Raf wraps an arm around her waist as she gently puts a hand on his shoulder and they gently sway to the music.
Raf smiles at his wife as he spins her before pulling her back against his chest, “You look so beautiful tonight sweetheart,” he whispers in her ear, kissing her neck softly before leaning in to kiss her lips as Casey wraps her arms around his neck and reciprocates the kiss.
As the song comes to an end, Casey enjoys the feeling of being in the arms of the man she loves and who adores her and has given her all the love she even wished for and who she made three beautiful children.
By nine o’clock, Sienna is exhausted and is sitting with her shoes off and sipping a glass of cocoa cola.
Casey walks over to her best friend, “Ready for bed?”
Sienna yawns and holds her hand over her mouth. “Yes. Would it be a terrible faux pas if I go to bed now?”
Casey shakes her head, “No. Of course not. You have the best excuse. You are nine months pregnant Sienna, days away from giving birth. If that’s not a valid excuse to leave your wedding party early I don’t know what would be?”
Jackie comes over with a drink in her hand, “Getting shot?”
Casey glares at their friend, “Jackie !”
Jackie laughs, “What? Wouldn’t that be a valid excuse to bail on your own wedding?”
Lucas and Raf walk over to where the girls are chatting, “Clear something up for me you two. Would it not be a valid excuse to leave your wedding early if you got shot?”
Raf shakes his head, “Regardless if it would be a valid excuse or not it wouldn’t be issue as you would need to anyway.”
Lucas just looks at her bewildered, “Who’s planning on getting shot?”
Casey splutters and laughs, “No one ! I’m just saying Sienna has the best excuse to go early.”
A sudden yawn catches Casey off guard, the last few months she hasn’t been able to stay up later than nine o’clock herself.
Sienna gets up and smiles, “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a lot of apologies to make before I sneak upstairs.”
She smiles at Lucas, “You can stay down here if you’d like? I’ll just be going straight to sleep anyway.”
Lucas shakes his head, “No. I’d rather look after you.”
Soon Sienna and Lucas leave their reception and only fifteen minutes later Casey finds Raf, once again talking with Tommy, “I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed.”
She yawns, “I am asleep on my feet.”
Raf smiles, “You go up and I’ll be up in ten minutes. I just want to make sure Vovo gets into a taxi ok.”
Casey nods, “Of course.”
Kissing her husband, Casey goes to say goodnight to Juliana.
Juliana is getting ready to leave as she sits just chatting to Natalia and Gloria. “Night Juliana. I’m going upstairs to our room to go to bed. It’s been a long day and I’m not used to being up this late anymore.”
Kissing her granddaughter in law, Juliana wraps Casey in a hug, “Good night my darling girl. You get some rest.”
Casey smiles and turns to Natalia and Gloria, “Sorry I can’t stay any longer. Having a three week old baby and partying until two in the morning don’t go together.”
Natalia smiles, “Of course not. Good night honey.”
Casey goes up to her and Raf’s hotel suite and with help from Victoria, she gets out of her dress and gets into her pyjamas. “Thank you for looking after the kids for a little while.”
Victoria smiles, “You’re welcome queirda. I am more than happy to do so.”
Hugging her daughter in law goodnight, Victoria goes downstairs to get into the taxi with Juliana and Rodrigo.
Casey is climbing into bed after brushing her teeth and using the toilet when Raf comes into their room. “You looked so beautiful today sweetheart,” he smiles as he beings to loosen his tie and take off his suit jacket.
Smiling, Casey watches as her husband slowly begins to undress, “Maybe I shouldn’t say this but you certainly outclassed Lucas in the handsome stakes. Saying that you always do. There’s no competition.”
Ten minutes later, Raf gets into bed beside Casey and pulls her into his arms. “I think Sienna would disagree.”
Casey giggles, “Sienna’s allowed her opinion and I’m allowed mine.”
Lying in the King sized bed in her husband’s arms, Casey falls into a blissful sleep.
As Lucas carrying Sienna into their bridal suite, she laughs softly, “What are you like?”
Putting Sienna down next to the bed, Lucas smiles, “It’s traditional for a bride to be carried over the threshold on her wedding night.”
Sienna smiles, “Yes, but not when she’s the size of a house.”
Lucas softly kisses Sienna, gently allowing his hands to explore her dress to find the buttons to help her undress, “You’re not the size of a house Si. You’re beautiful. Carrying our baby is the most beautiful thing you could do.”
Sienna’s wedding dress falls to the floor and she gets out of her underwear before reaching for her comfortable maternity pyjamas.
Getting into bed as Luc undresses, Sienna allows herself to admire her new husband, “If only I wasn’t heavily pregnant, or I’d pull you on top of me right this second.”
Lucas laughs, “We can come back next year for our anniversary and have the wedding night we would have if you weren’t pregnant.”
He gently cradles Sienna in his arms, “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, Mrs Madden.”
As Sienna hears her married name be spoken by her new husband for the first time, she feels a warm glow spread within her chest. “Hmm. Mrs Madden. I like that.”
She nestles her head in the crook of Luc’s shoulder and yawns, “I’m so sleepy.”
Kissing Sienna’s forehead, Luc smiles, “Close your eyes Si. I’ve got you. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Falling asleep, Sienna imagines her first day as a married woman.
She begins to dream.
Giggling as she packs a lacy thong and matching bra set, Sienna allows a smile to spread across her face.
Luc is whisking her away for a night to celebrate their wedding anniversary whilst Natalia babysits Meri.
Sienna packs a slinky red dress and feels excitement.
Although the last twelve months raising their baby daughter have been magical, it has left them very little time to be husband and wife.
Luc wraps his arms around Sienna’s waist and allows his hands to roam across her newly flattened abdomen and the mounds of her breasts. “Ready for our cheeky night away?” he murmurs, kissing her cheek.
Sienna beams, “Oh yes, I am so excited.”
She suddenly frowns when she hears Meri wake up and begin to babble in her crib. “Will she be ok? Should we be leaving her?”
Lucas wraps Sienna in a hug and gently rubs his hands up and down her back. “She’ll be fine with Mom overnight Si. I promise you.”
Sienna bites her lip, “I hope so. Maybe I should text Casey for some advice…”
Lucas takes Sienna’s hands in his, “Trust me, love, things will be fine.”
Sienna nods and smiles, “Ok. I believe you.”
Saying goodbye to their almost one year old daughter is always a wrench, as Sienna sits with Meri on her lap. “Mama and Daddy are going away for the night but Gramma will look after you and you’ll have so much fun. Mama will see you tomorrow. Bye bye my little Dolphin.”
Sienna’s phone vibrates and she sees it’s Casey.
Have a great night Sienna, try not to tire poor Lucas out too much x
Sienna giggles as she and Lucas go out to their car and head to the hotel, remembering the day of their wedding, how excited they were to finally become husband and wife.
Aftter they settle into their hotel and get dressed, Lucas whisks Sienna off to a nearby restraunt for an Italian feast.
Sienna smiles as her husband pulls her chair out for her, “Such a gent,” she smiles, sitting down.
They soon order a bottle of champagne and some garlic mushrooms for their starter.
Luc pours some champagne into Sienna’s glass, “Happy annivery love, I can’t believe how lucky I am. To be your husband and Meri’s Daddy is all I could ever need.”
Sienna clinks his glass, “Happy anniversary. I love you so much and look forward to many more anniversaries. Hopefully we will make it to our Golden anniversary.”
She giggles as Lucas tries to think which one that is. “Fifty years Luc.”
Lucas smiles, “I’ll cherish the idea as I want to be your husband for many, many years to come.”
It is also coming up to Casey and Raf’s ninth anniversary and their sixth wedding anniversary.
Their main courses arrive, Sienna has ordered chicken tagatelle alfredo and Lucas has a beef ragu.
As they happily chat and eat their meal, sharing bites of each other’s dishes, Sienna smiles, “I was thinking… Maybe we could try for a sibling for Meri soon? Maybe when she’s eighteen months?”
Reaching for Sienna’s hand, Lucas strokes her wedding ring, “I love that idea. I longed for a sibling growing up. Yes I had Raf, but it wasn’t the same as a true sibling.”
Sienna nods, “Yes. Me too. Growing up as an only child was a lonely experience and I don’t want that for our little girl.”
At that moment her heart aches for their lost baby daughter Brianna who would be fourteen months old, the same age as Victoria, Casey and Raf’s little girl.
Luc can tell, “I miss Brianna too Si, but the truth is, if we hadn’t lost her we wouldn’t have Meri. And that thought is untollerable.”
Sienna nods, “Yes, I know you’re right.”
After their dessert, a shared tiramisu, they finish their champagne before heading back to their hotel.
Walking into the hotel room, Sienna smiles, “I’m just going to the toilet.”
She heads into the toilet and begins to undress before using the toilet and then washing her hands before she sashays out of the bathroom sexily.
Lucas looks up as he takes off his shoes and gasps, “Sienna….”
He looks his wife up and down and his throat goes dry and the urge between his legs throbs. “I need you…” he gasps, standing up and reaching for her.
Waking up after her dream, Sienna feels a sensation she hadn’t felt for months, desire.
Lucas smiles at her as he comes out of the bathroom, “Morning Mrs Madden.”
He kisses her, “That is going to sound rather strange for some time,” Sienna smiles. “Strange, but oh so right.”
Lucas smiles, “I have some surprises for you.”
He goes to their bags and takes out a long rectangular box and hands it to Sienna. “This is for you. Think of it as another symbol of my love for you.”
Opening the box, Sienna gasps as she sees a gorgeous diamond tennis bracelet, “Oh Luc. It’s beautiful. It’s perfect,” Sienna whispers.
Lucas takes it out of the box gently and lifts Sienna’s wrist and fastens the bracelet around her wrist. “There. Perfect.”
There’s a soft knock on the door as room service arrives with the breakfast Luc had arranged for Sienna.
There is granolla and pancakes and scrambled eggs and toast as well as strawberries and grapes and orange juice.
Sienna’s eyes grow wide, “It’s lucky my appetite is raging right now with all this beautiful food.”
She smiles as they are left alone, Lucas sits beside her. “Thank you,” she whispers, reaching up to caress his cheek.
Kissing Sienna sweetly, Lucas smiles adoringly at his wife. “You are worth it. You are worth so much more. I wanted to treat you like the Queen you are.”
Sienna tucks into her breakfast, “Join me?”
Lucas nods and gets into bed beside her and she gently feeds him a strawberry.
He bites it gently, “Mm, this tastes good.”
Sienna pops the rest of the strawberry into her own mouth, “It does.”
She feels an ache in her lower abdomen, “Oof. That hurt.”
Lucas looks at Sienna seriously with his face full of worry. “What’s the matter Si? Do we need to go to the hospital?”
As Sienna is nine months pregnant, she and Lucas brought her hospital bag with them to the hotel as a precaution.
Sienna shakes her head, “I don’t think so. I think it’s just Braxton Hicks again.”
After a lesiurely breakfast in bed, Lucas helps Sienna into the shower and helps her wash.
As she gets out of the shower ten minutes later, Sienna smiles, “I had the best day yesterday. I am so lucky to be your wife.”
Lucas kisses Sienna as he wraps her in a warm towel, “I am the lucky one. I never imagined I have a wife or a child and I admit watching Raf with Casey and the twins, there was a twinge of jealousy.”
Sienna smiles, “You don’t have to feel like that now. Soon you will have what you dreamt of. Me and our little Dolphin.”
When Sienna dresses in a flowing dress, she cradles her bump, “You will soon be in Mama and Daddy’s arms Meri. Our Little Dolphin. We can’t wait to hold you.”
Meredith kicks softly and Sienna’s eyes light up as Lucas wraps his arms around her, “Let’s get you two home.”
Premise: On the day of the next phase of her life, Sienna reflects on her life and love.
Book: Open Heart (post series)
Pairing: Sienna Trinh x Max Valentine (M!OC)
Rating/Category: Teen. Fluff.
Words: 1,570
A/N: I received this beautiful poem prompt from @bex-la-get and another visual prompt from @jerzwriter. Both inspired this cute, fluffy fic for Maxenna.
I’m also participating in @choices-september-challenge-blog Day 10 prompt "What are you smiling about?“
She was being chased in her dreams by the most unlikely of things. Medical terms dressed up in teddy bear suits — pyrexia, enuresis, inguinal hernia. The more she ran, the faster they chased her until she felt trapped.
Then she felt a calm spread as something soft brushed her forehead, gentle fingers combed through her hair. She tried to catch the whispered words breaking through the haze of her dreams, but she couldn’t make them out. And then she was alone. No freaky bears quoting Latin. Just peace.
This is one of my favorite Maxenna fics because it shows how much things have changed for Sienna after book 3, how she found her own strength and how much she’s appreciated.
For @siennatrinhappreciationweek Day 6 - Character Appreciation.
Premise: Max and Sienna expand their home, but Sienna's more excited about the kitchen.
Book: Open Heart (post series)
Pairing: Sienna Trinh x Max Valentine (M!OC)
Rating/Category: Teen. Fluff.
Format: Text and Pic Fic
A/N: I've been holding on to these pics for a few months, waiting for the right moment to use them. For @siennatrinhappreciationweek Day 5 - the future
Part 1: The Renovation
Part 2: The Truth
Part 3: The Transformation
-------------
All Fics & Edits: @bluebelle08 @coffeeheartaddict2 @crazy-loca-blog @jerzwriter @justyourusualash
Free Day: Make your own prompt or use one of the below
Describe a time when Sienna faced a significant personal or professional setback. How did she overcome it, and what did she learn from the experience?
What is one of Sienna’s happiest memories? How does this memory influence her outlook on life?
Does Sienna have any hidden talents or skills that few people know about? How do these talents come into play in her life?
Describe a situation where Sienna had to make a difficult ethical decision. How did she handle it, and what were the consequences?
The prompts are for inspiration. Feel free to share your responses to these questions or submit anything you want to about Sienna.
Submissions can be fanfics, fanart, edits, mood boards, playlists, headcanons, and interactive media—even simple appreciation posts and screenshots of favorite scenes.
We'll also accept WIPs and throwback pieces—reblog them and tag us. All we ask is that you make Sienna the star of your fanwork!
Guidelines below the cut...
Guidelines
Tag @siennatrinhappreciationweek on new posts and reblogs of previously posted content.
Please specify the day or prompt in the header or reblog.
If your work has mature or NSFW content, please label it as such and use appropriate warnings.
Please add a ‘read more’ page break to avoid long posts and hide sensitive content below the line. This prevents exposing other fans to triggering/disturbing or mature content.
Participate as often as you like and on any day of the event week. There's no limit on multiple submissions for the same day or prompt
Use the prompts whenever and however you like. It’s not about a specific word or day but rather the creativity it inspires.
Late submissions accepted until September 2nd. Event masterlist will be posted by September 5th.
Tumblr tags can be finicky. If your work isn't reblogged within 48 hours, send @liaromancewriter a DM or submit an ask with the link to the post.
Remember to also tag the below fandom blogs:
@choicesficwriterscreations (new works, WIPs and throwbacks accepted - submission guidelines
@choicesaugustchallenge (new works only) - prompts here
Character Appreciation: What do you love about Sienna?
What is your favorite quality of Sienna's, and how does it influence her actions?
Share a moment from canon where Sienna truly shines. What made it special or memorable for you?
Who inspires Sienna, whether in her personal life or career?
Pick any scenario and answer: What would Sienna do?
The prompts are for inspiration. Feel free to share your responses to these questions or submit anything that celebrates Sienna.
Submissions can be fanfics, fanart, edits, mood boards, playlists, headcanons, and interactive media—even simple appreciation posts and screenshots of favorite scenes.
We'll also accept WIPs and throwback pieces—reblog them and tag us. All we ask is that you make Sienna the star of your fanwork!
Guidelines below the cut...
Guidelines
Tag @siennatrinhappreciationweek on new posts and reblogs of previously posted content.
Please specify the day or prompt in the header or reblog.
If your work has mature or NSFW content, please label it as such and use appropriate warnings.
Please add a ‘read more’ page break to avoid long posts and hide sensitive content below the line. This prevents exposing other fans to triggering/disturbing or mature content.
Participate as often as you like and on any day of the event week. There's no limit on multiple submissions for the same day or prompt
Use the prompts whenever and however you like. It’s not about a specific word or day but rather the creativity it inspires.
Late submissions accepted until September 2nd. Event masterlist will be posted by September 5th.
Tumblr tags can be finicky. If your work isn't reblogged within 48 hours, send @liaromancewriter a DM or submit an ask with the link to the post.
Remember to also tag the below fandom blogs:
@choicesficwriterscreations (new works, WIPs and throwbacks accepted - submission guidelines
@choicesaugustchallenge (new works only) - prompts here
Premise: Sienna shares a midnight rendezvous with an unlikely companion.
Book: Open Heart (post series)
Pairing: Sienna Trinh x Max Valentine (M!OC); feat. Robert Valentine (OC)
Rating/Category: General. Fluff
Words: 1,315
A/N: I want to explore various platonic relationships in the OH world that I’ve created. I don’t think it will be a formal series, more like a collection. At this stage, my fics and characters while inspired by canon are 80% original. I want to take advantage of that to write different types of stories.
Submission for @choicesaugustchallenge Day 29 prompt “Birthday Cake”. This takes place after the events of Sibling Rivalry. I am also using a pregnancy prompt (the first one is always an adventure) from @creativepromptsforwriting and sharing for reblog to @creativepromptfills
It was almost one o’clock in the morning when Sienna Valentine (née Trinh) awakened to the tightness in her abdomen. Right on schedule, she thought absently, cradling her pregnant belly.
Their little bean enjoyed performing somersaults in the middle of the night as if her body was his playground. She wondered if he would be a night owl after birth as well. Or an early morning riser like his parents.
She was nestled against her husband’s shoulder, his chest rising and falling evenly in sleep. Sienna remembered falling asleep, his arms loosely wrapped around her, listening to his heartbeat. And they were still there.
Sienna is alarmed by Casey’s sadness the day after she seemed cheered up after she went with Juliana to the community centre, so she head around to her bestie’s with her trusty apron & they made some sweet treats.
*using the prompts laughter and support and unbreakable bond*
Sienna walks along the halls of Edenbrooke’s hospital as she heads to the exit on her way to go and visit her best friend.
Casey Valentine has been Sienna’s best friend for two years now and she doesn’t know what she would have done if she had lost her.
But by some miracle Casey had survived the maitotoxin attack and had been released from hospital ten days ago.
Leaving work, Sienna heads straight over to Juliana Aveiro’s home where Casey has been staying as she recuperates, at Juliana’s insistence as she knew Casey’s roommates are all working at all hours and not necessarily able to give her the care she will need.
Parking the car, she gets out and goes to knock on the door.
As she waits, it occurs to Sienna that Casey may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Since she was discharged, Casey has been desperate to spend as much time with Raf as she can after almost losing him, something which Sienna understands.
She desperately misses Danny and wishes that the antidote that had saved Casey and Raf could have saved him too.
Juliana smiles as she opens the door. “Hello Sienna, Casey is curled up on the couch. I know she will be happy to see you.”
Leading Sienna into the cosy home she shares with her grandson, Juliana takes her into the living room where Casey is reading a magazine.
Casey smiles, “Hi Si. You really didn’t have to come straight from work.”
Sienna shakes her head, “I wanted to. How are you feeling?”
Casey’s demeanour deflates, “I’m exhausted and aching all over. But also grateful to be alive and still have the man I love by my side.”
Sienna nods, “Where is he anyway?”
Casey smiles, “Asleep.”
Sienna reaches for Casey’s hand, “I have never been so frightened. The second day you went downhill and we all worried that the antidote was going to fail. As I watched you slip in and out of consciousness I wondered if I could go on.”
Casey wraps her arms around Sienna, “Oh Sienna. I’m ok. I’m here.”
She kisses the top of Sienna’s head. “I’m alive. You don’t need to worry.”
Sienna smiles, “I was wondering, would you like to come for a walk? We could go down to the café and get a cup of tea and some doughnuts.”
Casey smiles, “I would love to.”
As she gets up off the couch, Casey smiles at Juliana, “If Raf wakes before I’m back just tell him that I won’t be long.”
Juliana nods, “Just be careful dear, you are still recovering as well.”
Casey nods, “I promise.”
As she heads out with Sienna, looping her arm through her best friend’s, Casey feels grateful to have such a huge support. “I know you will likely say I am worrying over nothing, but I just felt terrified. You are the friend I dreamt of as a child. The sister I always wanted. If I lost you. I would lose part of me,” Sienna says.
Casey nods as they approach the café, “I feel the same for you. But we are together and we will be friends until we are old and white haired and doted.”
Sienna laughs at the old expression. “I hope so.”
She squeezes Casey gently in a hug. “Come on. I think we both deserve some doughnuts.”
Laughing, the two friends walk into the café and soon they are sitting down with a cup of tea and a box of doughnuts between them. “Mmm. I love strawberry doughnuts.”
Sienna licks the strawberry icing off her fingers.
Casey smiles as she picks up a raspberry glazed doughnut. “These are my favourites.”
Biting into the soft and sweet dough, Casey’s mouth fills with the delicious taste of raspberry cream. “It’s comparable to orgasm.”
Sienna almost chokes on her doughnut and takes a drink of her tea to wash it down. “Casey!”
Casey laughs, “Just an observation.”
As the two friends chat and laugh as they eat their way through the box of doughnuts and drink the pot of tea, Casey feels free for the first time in weeks.
Sienna squeezes Casey’s hand gently, “I am so glad we found each other. I have dreamt of having a friend I cared for so much that I saw her as a sister.”
Casey smiles, “I’m glad we found each other too.”
After spending an hour chatting and laughing and eating doughnuts, Sienna walks Casey back to Juliana’s.
By the time they arrive back, Raf is awake and he smiles and kisses Casey. “Did you have a good walk?”
Casey nods, “It was good, but the doughnuts at the end of it were even better.”
Sienna smiles, “How are you doing Raf?”
Raf sits on the couch, “Slowly getting better but still weak and of course the grief for Danny and Bobby isn’t helping my mental health very much.”
Sienna nods in understanding, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, “I understand. We all feel the same, but it would be harder for you and Casey as you were there when Bobby died but despite your instincts you couldn’t help.”
After staying for an hour, Sienna stands up to leave and gives Casey a squeeze. “I have made my mind up. We will do this once a month. Just you and me with a pot of tea and box of doughnuts.”
Casey nods, “I absolutely love that idea.”
She takes Sienna to the door to see her out and as the two friends part, Casey watches Sienna walk away thinking how lucky she is to have a best friend who is there for her through the good times and the bad.
The next few weeks as Casey continues to recover, she and Sienna spend a lot of time together and this Friday night they are snuggled underneath a blanket with a large cheese pizza and a tub of Rocky Road ice cream as they watch Sex And The City – The Movie.
Casey takes a slice of pizza as she giggles, “This makes me think of us – if we were sex mad and go out drinking a lot.”
Sienna smiles as she bites into the gooey melted cheese. “You are certainly a lot like Samantha.”
Casey wrinkles her nose, “No. I’m Carrie. You’re Miranda.”
Laughing as they watch the rest of the film, Casey and Sienna feel grateful to have found each other.
Casey sees Sienna as the peanut butter to her jelly.
A perfect pair.
You can’t have one without the other.
Casey picks up the tub of ice cream and hands Sienna a spoon. “Shall we?”
As they giggle along with the film, Casey and Sienna happily scoop spoonful’s of ice cream into their mouths, enjoying their bestie movie night and enjoying each other.
Life After Residency: What happens to Sienna in the future?
Where does Sienna see herself five years after finishing her residency?
What kind of doctor does Sienna become as she gains more experience?
How does Sienna's personal life evolve after residency? Does she achieve a better work-life balance?
What new challenges does Sienna face as she advances in her medical career?
The prompts are for inspiration. Feel free to share your responses to these questions or submit anything about Sienna's future self.
Submissions can be fanfics, fanart, edits, mood boards, playlists, headcanons, and interactive media—even simple appreciation posts and screenshots of favorite scenes.
We'll also accept WIPs and throwback pieces—reblog them and tag us. All we ask is that you make Sienna the star of your fanwork!
Guidelines below the cut...
Guidelines
Tag @siennatrinhappreciationweek on new posts and reblogs of previously posted content.
Please specify the day or prompt in the header or reblog.
If your work has mature or NSFW content, please label it as such and use appropriate warnings.
Please add a ‘read more’ page break to avoid long posts and hide sensitive content below the line. This prevents exposing other fans to triggering/disturbing or mature content.
Participate as often as you like and on any day of the event week. There's no limit on multiple submissions for the same day or prompt
Use the prompts whenever and however you like. It’s not about a specific word or day but rather the creativity it inspires.
Late submissions accepted until September 2nd. Event masterlist will be posted by September 5th.
Tumblr tags can be finicky. If your work isn't reblogged within 48 hours, send @liaromancewriter a DM or submit an ask with the link to the post.
Remember to also tag the below fandom blogs:
@choicesficwriterscreations (new works, WIPs and throwbacks accepted - submission guidelines
@choicesaugustchallenge (new works only) - prompts here
